Who was killed in a duel resulting from the Presidential election of 1800?

Answer 1

Alexander Hamilton, who was a Federalist party leader and Secretary of the Treasury, was shot in a duel with his bitter rival, Vice-President Aaron Burr on July 11, 1804. Hamilton died the following day. The mortal shot damaged internal organs and severed Hamilton's spinal cord, leaving the lower half of his body paralyzed.

The animosity between the two men developed over several years, but turned to outright hatred after the Presidential election of 1800. Second President and Federalist John Adams was defeated by both Democratic-Republican candidates, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, who each received the same number of votes. The House of Representatives was responsible for choosing which man would succeed Adams, and which would become Vice-President. Hamilton believed Burr represented the greater threat to the Federalist Party, and used his influence to sway the decision in favor of Jefferson. Burr never forgave him.

After the duel, Burr was charged with murder in both New Jersey (the duel took place in Weehawken) and New York, but neither case went to trial. Hamilton's death ended Burr's political career, however, and left the Federalist Party without a strong leader. This contributed to the party's demise.