Aaron Burr Trial - Significance, Aaron Burr's Roller-coaster Career, Burr Tried Before Chief Justice Marshall

Aaron Burr Trial - Significance

The Burr treason trial was the only time in American history that a court tried such a high-level official of the United States for treason. Although Burr was acquitted, his political career was destroyed. With the exception of scholars of American history, most people are oblivious as to how unstable the political situation in the United States was in the early decades of the 1800s. In the years …

Aaron Burr Trial - Further Readings

Aaron Burr Trial - Aaron Burr's Roller-coaster Career

Burr's impeccable credentials as an American patriot made him an unlikely candidate for the treason with which he was to be charged. Born in Newark, New Jersey, and educated at what became Princeton University, he was commissioned as an officer in the American army during the Revolutionary War. Burr distinguished himself in combat, and by the end of the war had risen to the rank of lieutenant colo…

Aaron Burr Trial - Burr Tried Before Chief Justice Marshall

On 26 March 1807, Burr was taken by his captors to Richmond, Virginia, for trial before the federal court. Normally, Judge Cyrus Griffin of the District of Virginia would have presided over the trial. At the time, however, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall was present in Richmond to hear appeals from the "circuit" that encompassed Virginia. Griffin soon found himself playing second fiddle …

Aaron Burr Trial - Definition Of An Overt Act Debated

Burr's defense counsel countered Wirt's impressive oratory by keeping the focus of attention on the prosecution's strained interpretation on what constituted an "overt act." After all, the only act of the revolt remotely "overt" had been the preparations at Blennerhassett's island during which Burr had not been present. Therefore, Botts retorted: Acts on the island were not acts of war; no war cou…