Assignment: The Duel -- Hamilton and Burr, 1804

The facts surrounding the duel are fairly well established. A narrative of the day's events can be found at the American Experience website.

However, historians still disagree about a crucial question:

Did Alexander Hamilton try to kill Aaron Burr on the the Plains of Weehawken, or did he purposefully throw away his shot, firing into the air, leaving his fate in Burr's hands?

Your task is to read the documents provided as part of this exercise and draft a 500-word response to the question: Did Hamilton try to kill Aaron Burr? Be sure to use specific evidence from the documents in your answer. The due date and directions for submission are posted on the course schedule for our course.