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Document Type
Video
Publication Date
10-8-2020
Abstract
Why did Alexander Hamilton die in a duel? Fans of the musical-and the history behind it-have to wonder why Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, two men who sought to be “in the room where it happens” during the Founding Era, ended up with pistols drawn. Was this a barbaric aberration, an unfortunate misunderstanding, or maybe an event dramatized for Broadway? In this session, we’ll examine why early Americans considered dueling to be the height of civility, why it fell out of favor, and whether dueling could make a comeback in our current political climate.
Recommended Citation
George, Elizabeth, "He Threw Away His Shot: Hamilton, Dueling, and Political Conflict in America" (2020). Taylor Talks: A Virtual Learning Experience with Taylor Faculty. 17.
https://pillars.taylor.edu/taylor-talks/17