Ellis started the book out with the most exciting chapter of the book, “The Duel.” This chapter went in depth on a subject that most people only hear about briefly in a history class. It talks about the fatal duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. The two men had been bitter enemies and pol

itical foes for years. Burr was the vice-president at the time and could have been president if it were not for Hamilton’s interference. After his term, Burr ran for governor of New York and was again challenged by Hamilton. Burr was outraged and challenged his rival to a duel. The two men met near Weehawken, New Jersey to settle the score. Ellis explained the dueling process as counting ten paces turning and firing. This indeed happened and Hamilton was fatally wounded. Legend has it that Hamilton missed Burr on purpose and Burr did not mean to kill Hamilton, however, Hamilton may have died, but Burr’s reputation was ruined forever.

The next event was very patchy to me. In “The Silence”, Ellis tells how slavery was a big subject to Benjamin Franklin, and how he wanted to end all slavery. After all of Franklin’s efforts, he gets a negative response from James Madison who basically told Franklin that he was crazy. Madison explained to Franklin why the “Founding Fathers” did not do anything about slavery. And he said that the southern economy depended on slavery that it should be up to the state whether or not they should abolish slavery, not the whole country.

“The Friendship” told about how the two bitterest enemies regained their friendship. Thi

Some topics in this essay:
Adams Jefferson, James Madison, Joseph Ellis, Founding Brothers, Alexander Hamilton, Weehawken Jersey, Thomas Jefferson’s, Hamilton Hamilton, Hamilton Burr, Legend Hamilton, adams jefferson, alexander hamilton, “founding fathers”, bitter enemies, james madison, joseph ellis, “the silence”, “the collaborators”, book read, “the friendship”,