WI Thomas Jefferson dies in 1804, after Burr-Hamilton duel

Use whatever reason you like for Jefferson dying: say a sudden severe illness. But anyway, if Jefferson had died at this point then Aaron Burr would have succeeded to the Presidency. After having already killed Alexander Hamilton.

Burr had already been dropped from the Republican ticket for the 1804 election, by the way -- so he's going to be President for less than a year. But how would the USA deal with having a President who had warrants for his arrest for murder in two of the seventeen states?

(And incidentally, who would the Republicans run as their candidate in 1804? Madison?)
 
Would Burr be called "President" in these circs, or would "Vice President, Acting as President" become the accepted form?

Theoretically, they could try to impeach him, but given that his term had only months to run, probbaly wouln't bother.

At a guess I'd say Madison comes in four years earlier. "War of 1807" perhaps?
 

katchen

Banned
If Madison started a War of 1807, right after the British victory at Trrafalgar Square, it would be to take over New Spain /Mexico. Jefferson and others wanted to do it and there wasnt the debate over slavery and bringing (shock-horror) nonwhite populations into the Union to inhibit US expansion at that early date.
 
The Democratic-Republicans won't be running anyone as a national, unified ticket; they weren't anything like so organized or disciplined yet. Virginia will nominate Madison, and he'll be on ballots throughout the South - but the New York ballot will feature President Burr for re-election at the top of the ticket, and no Virginians on it in any capacity whatsoever. And with Virginia and New York running different candidates and New England still Federalist, you'll see an election decided in the House.
 
The Democratic-Republicans won't be running anyone as a national, unified ticket; they weren't anything like so organized or disciplined yet. Virginia will nominate Madison, and he'll be on ballots throughout the South - but the New York ballot will feature President Burr for re-election at the top of the ticket, and no Virginians on it in any capacity whatsoever. And with Virginia and New York running different candidates and New England still Federalist, you'll see an election decided in the House.


Huh?

Burr ran for Governor of NY in 1804 and got well and truly creamed, so it's not likely to go for him for President. And looking at Jefferson's easy OTL win in '04, and Madison's own in '08, I see no reason to expect a serious challenge.
 
The Democratic-Republicans won't be running anyone as a national, unified ticket; they weren't anything like so organized or disciplined yet.
No - they definitely were organized. Witness how Jefferson-Burr were on ballots throughout the Union in 1800, despite Burr being greatly disliked in many circles. Three years of Jefferson being in power would only have cemented the organization.
 
If Madison started a War of 1807, right after the British victory at Trrafalgar Square, it would be to take over New Spain /Mexico. Jefferson and others wanted to do it and there wasnt the debate over slavery and bringing (shock-horror) nonwhite populations into the Union to inhibit US expansion at that early date.

I take it you mean the battle at cape Trafalgar? :p

the square is really not big enough for all those ships (not to speak of the lack of water).
 
I take it you mean the battle at cape Trafalgar? :p

the square is really not big enough for all those ships (not to speak of the lack of water).
Maybe Jefferson's death somehow gives Napoleon the capability to land an army on Britain, and they march to London, capturing the city after the harshest fighting in Trafalgar Square.
 
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