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I've read a few books on Andrew Jackson. The one thing that puzzles me about his life is what he knew about Aaron Burr's plans and how supportive he was about them. Was his aid merely Southern hospitality or somthing more substantial? The history books I've read are very murky about this point.

I've been reading up on him lately, too. Seems several people knew of Burr's plans yet their motives are unclear. Jackson was very proud of being from the south and was a very intelligent man. He was also like many of that time arrogant in politics and with people. I'll have to look further into this. Thanks. I'll let you know what I find.

Rebecca -

I know this is a bit of a long shot, but also on the Burr Conspiracy question. Is it possible that Alexander Hamilton was killed in a duel in order to shut him up because he was in the know about Aaron Burr's plans and the duel was just a trumped up story to prevent him from making public what Burr was up to? I guess the duel was about 2 years before Burr's conspiracy trial. But considering the time needed for his plans to be financed and supplies obtained it doesn't seem too unlikely that Burr's plot would be created and worked on even at the time of the duel.

That's a thought, and from what I've seen it is possible. You are right in that such a plot could not be hatched overnight, and Hamilton and Burr never did get along. It could be that Hamilton found out and fell right into a plan for Burr to get rid of a pain in his side and protect his secret which really wasn't a secret in the end.

Politics was even dirtier back then and murder was not out of the question. It could also be a case of just stupidity and hatred with Hamilton totally innocent in the knowledge of the plot.