WI: Hamilton Wins Duel

What would happen if Alexander Hamilton mortally wounded then-Vice President Aaron Burr during their 1804 duel? In OTL, Hamilton was mortally wounded, and he died the next day. Murder charges were filed against Burr, but he never stood trial. Would Hamilton be tried and convicted of murder? And who would replace Burr as Vice President?
 
Interesting. After the duel, Hamilton was vindicated. His pro-central government ideal was taken up by many, leading to the federal government becoming far more powerful, which is still felt today. Well, if the result was reversed, Burr might be vindicated, and states rights will become far more important.
 
Hamilton wanted to miss. He had already participated in another duel in which both participants fire the bullet in the air. You'd have to dramatically change his personality for him to actually shoot Burr.
 
Hamilton wanted to miss. He had already participated in another duel in which both participants fire the bullet in the air. You'd have to dramatically change his personality for him to actually shoot Burr.

What he said. Hamilton had no intention of killing another man in a duel, but his honor prevented him from refusing the challenge. Thus, the best we can get is a living Hamilton - no dead Burr is possible.

I disagree with Kaiser, though, in that I suspect that a live Hamilton would have campaigned hard for ever more centralization. As Hamilton was supposed to be a good speaker and writer, this could help the Federalists a bunch...maybe even to the point of making them a longer lasting party.
 
Well, there is one chance. If Burr would have grazed him with his bullet, Hamilton would have fired his second shot directly at Burr.
 
We can just go with Hamilton living. If he were still alive, it would sure strengthen the Federalist Party, but assuming no major butterflies occur, the War of 1812 would still result in the Hartford Convention, which would label the Federalists as traitorous scum. With Hamilton at the Convention, maybe there's a greater likelihood of New England actually seceding.
 
I disagree with Kaiser, though, in that I suspect that a live Hamilton would have campaigned hard for ever more centralization. As Hamilton was supposed to be a good speaker and writer, this could help the Federalists a bunch...maybe even to the point of making them a longer lasting party.
The Federalists were dying by 1804, they had been for a while ever since the Democratic-Republicans figured out how to really run a political campaign. I doubt that even Hamilton could revitalize them enough to allow a longer-lasting Federalist party. At best they will challenge the D-R Party a little more than in OTL.
 
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