Gore Vidal's "Burr": A Biography of Aaron Burr

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around Gore Vidal's biography of Aaron Burr, exploring themes related to the lives and politics of the founding fathers, historical events, and differing perspectives on key figures such as George Washington and Alexander Hamilton.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes surprising historical facts from the biography, including the slaughter of slaves in the South due to fears of revolt and discussions of New England's potential secession in the early 1800s.
  • Another participant agrees with the view that Washington was a mediocre general, citing his losses and the reliance on French support for victory, while acknowledging Washington's ability to maintain army cohesion during difficult times.
  • There is mention of ongoing debates among historians regarding the credit for the victory at Saratoga, with figures like Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates being highlighted.
  • A suggestion is made to read Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton for an alternative perspective on the historical context and relationships between figures like Burr and Hamilton.
  • One participant reflects on the role of the press in exacerbating tensions between Burr and Hamilton, comparing historical media to modern sensationalism.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on Washington's military capabilities and the historical context surrounding Burr and Hamilton, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on interpretations of historical events that may not be universally accepted, and there are unresolved debates regarding the contributions of various figures in the Revolutionary War.

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I am just about finished with this book a biography of Arron Burr. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the life and politics of our founding fathers.

I have leaned much that is very surprising. Like:
1. In the 1790s in the wake of the French Revolution and following a successful slave revolt in Haiti, perhaps 1000's of slaves in the south were simply slaughtered in fear of a similar revolt.

2. There was talk of succession of the New England states in the early 1800s.

3. Many of the founding fathers were licentious drunks, exceptions would be G. Washington and J. Madison.

4. Burr felt that Washington had a knack for losing battles. Over all he was a poor General, but was able to hold things together long enough for the French to save our backsides.

Once again this is a very good read for anyone interested in the men and women of the Revolution era.
 
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Integral said:
. Burr felt that Washington had a knack for losing battles. Over all he was a poor General, but was able to hold things together long enough for the French to save our backsides.

Yes. Few Americans realize that the founding father was, at best, a mediocre general in terms of tactics. However, he deserves credit for keeping the army together and "toughing out" the hard times to gain (with the necessary help of France) a final victory at Yorktown, Va (1781). First he lost New York City, then he lost Philadelphia and nearly lost his army at Valley Forge. After a victory at Monmouth, NJ (1778), he largely avoided combat while the British invaded the southern colonies. Washington wasn't present for the war's most critical battle at Saratoga, NY (1777). That key American victory belongs either to Benedict Arnold or Horatio Gates (historians still argue about this).

http://sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/gwash.html see American Revolution
 
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you might try Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton for another view
 
BWV said:
you might try Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton for another view


Thanks for the suggestion, I will do that.

Seems that much of the problem between Burr and Hamilton was due to the vitriol in the press of the day. The stuff they printed make the Star and Enquirer read like the Sunday comics.