bring the soldiers to safety in an impressive feat that was worthy of commendation. Washington, however, failed to acknowledge the feat, and also ignored Burr's claim for an early promotion; slights that were deeply resented by Burr. When he was finally promoted as Lt. Colonel in 1777, he dared to write back to the commander-in-chief complaining that he ought to have been promoted earlier4 By the time, Burr asked to be relieved from the army in 1779 due to health reasons, he had become a war hero; he had also managed to earn the lasting dislike of General George Washington (Fleming, 1999).
             Practicing Law and Politics in New York
             After leaving the army, Burr resumed his law studies and settled in New York to practice as an attorney. Alexander Hamilton was another brilliant young lawyer who had also settled in New York and the paths of the two ambitious young men often crossed. At first, their relationship was quite friendly and they even fought some court cases together.
             Most prominent and educated white Americans in the early days after the country's independence were active participants in state or national politics; Burr and Hamilton were no exceptions. Burr's began his political career in 1784 when he was elected to the New York Assembly; it took a boost when he was made the state's attorney general in 1789. In those days, New York State's politics were dominated by three influential families--the Clintons, the Livingstons, and the Schuylers. (Buckner, 2001, p. 30). Hamilton, unlike Burr was a poor West Indian immigrant and did not have an aristocratic family background. He had, however, married into one of the region's most aristocratic and well-known families-the Schuylers-and brought his considerable intellect and energy on their side. Except for their family background, Burr and Hamilton were similar in more ways than one5 and both seemed destined for extraordinary success in politics.
             The ...