Conspiracy of Burr

The conspiracy of Burr is a plot presumedly directed by the former vice-president Aaron Burr implying growers, politicians and officers at the beginning of the 19th century with the the United States. Burr is shown to want to create a nation independent in the center of North America and/or South-west. Burr finally was stopped and judged with Richmond but was discharged, for lack of evidence

Context

After its charge of murder on the person of Alexander Hamilton in 1804, Aaron Burr flees with Philadelphia to escape its arrest.

Actors

James Wilkinson was one of the companions of Burr and worked for the secession of part of the Union. He was the general commander and he was known for his corruption. He in particular tried to separate Kentucky and Tennesse from the Union during the years 1780. It is him which persuaded the president Thomas Jefferson to name Aaron Burr with the head of the territories of Louisiana. Nevertheless, Wilkinson revealed later with the president the plans of Burr.
Anthony Merry: minister for Great Britain in the United States, it met Burr in 1805. This one promised to him: 500000 dollars if it put the British fleet at the service of the secession of Louisiana.
Harman Blennerhassett : it offered to Burr and its companions the possibility of taking refuge on its island of the Ohio.

Unfolding

In 1805, Burr leaves for the West in order to recruit volunteers to enter the Spanish territories. With the New-Orleans, it meets a group of Mexicans whose objective is to conquer Mexico. In 1806, Aaron Burr turns over in the West to prepare a forwarding on the the Mississippi. It profits from the support of Blennerhassett which proposes its island to him to gather troops and material. The governor of Ohio, Edward Tiffin starts to be wary of the intentions of Burr and lance an attack on the island.

Crushing argument

With the beginning of the year 1805, president Jefferson learns the rumor from the plot. Burr preferred to destroy the Union rather than to accept the re-election of Jefferson. After one long period of wait-and-see policy, the president decides to make it stop. Burr is finally judged in 1807, but the court decides to discharge it.

See too

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