To What Extent Did Alexander Hamilton Duel With Aaron Burr

Harris and White detail many harsh symptoms of bipolar disorder that will disrupt one’s everyday life. While in a manic state, one can expect to experience excessive joy, heightened energy and sexual tendencies, racing thoughts, distorted judgment, a reduced desire for sleep, rapid speech, a lack of self-control, and increased aggression towards others. There is also a possibility to encounter psychosis, where individuals might be unable to discern fact from fiction. Hallucinations and delusions of grandeur are also common for those experiencing psychosis with their mania. In a depressed state, one might suffer from symptoms such as depression, anxiety, overwhelming guilt, social isolation, fatigue, a lack of an appetite, apathy, and chronic

In this letter, Hamilton condemns the concept of dueling, but justifies his decision to duel with Aaron Burr. In his condemnation, Hamilton mentions that “My wife and [c]hildren are extremely dear to me, and my life is of the utmost importance to them, in various views.” This is an odd thing to mention, as he does not indicate that his own life being important to himself. If Hamilton had truly valued himself in a way that was mentally healthy, he would have not wanted to duel with Burr due to danger it posed on his

Stated both in his fourth reason for denouncing the duel, in which he expresses “I am conscious of no ill-will to Col Burr,” and again periodically throughout the letter, it is clear Hamilton does not wish to shoot Aaron Burr. This makes the idea of the Hamilton-Burr duel shocking; why would Hamilton willingly enter a hazardous duel, one he knew he could die in, if he did not want to shoot his opponent? There would be no reason for Hamilton to go through with this duel, if he did not have other intentions besides shooting Burr. Although pride could have played a role in this decision to duel, Hamilton also writes “Apology (from principle... rather than [p]ride) is out of the question,” which shows his opinion on pride. When Hamilton states that the apology would have been out of principle instead of pride, he is effectively stating that pride was not an issue in his duel with