Opinion of Aaron Burr

[Antonio the Sixth]

FF for saving us from Hamilton.

[Antonio the Sixth]

HP. Killed Hamilton, tried to snake a presidential election, and take Louisiana away from the US for personal gain. Total bum

Anyone want to clue me in on what this is referring to?

I assume you're familiar with the way the electoral college worked prior to the 12th amendment? The voters who backed the Republican ticket in 1800 intended for Jefferson to become president and Burr to become vice president. The plan was for the Republican electors to support Jefferson and Burr equally; Burr would then step aside and allow Jefferson to become president. When push came to shove, however, Burr instead chose to remain in the race in hopes that Congressional Federalists would elect him instead. Had he succeeded, it would have been in spite of the will of the voters, who clearly had intended to elect Jefferson.

Technically, Burr's actions were in keeping with the Constitution, but they were certainly not in keeping with the way he had represented his candidacy to the people who voted for him. It would be as if the Democratic electors had all voted for Dick Cheney in 2008; technically legal, but hardly honest.

I still don't understand how the pre-Twelfth EC worked very well, myself.

IIRC, each Elector cast two votes. The most voted candidate (assuming they won a majority) became President, and the runner-up (assuming a majority again) Vice-President.

That wasn't very well thought out.

[Antonio the Sixth]

hamilto shot first

Just like Greedo!