The 1804 dual between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton is probably the most famous in all history. Both participants were nationally renowned at the time: Burr was the Vice President of the United States, and Hamilton had been the Boy Wonder of the American Revolution and the first U. S. Secretary of the Treasury. The death of Hamilton was a blow to the nation and the Federalist Party, of which he was a leader; and the event helped to outlaw duelling throughout the new nation. Duelling was still legal in some states, though it carried the death sentence in New York, where both Hamilton and Burr were residents. The two had deliberately met in New Jersey (which had less-stringent penalties) to face one another. Anti-duelling movements soon appeared, and eventually 20 states banned the practice. Oddly enough, there are still 30 states which have no specific anti-duelling laws, although murder and assault charges remain possible against participants.

The event added to Burr's declining political career. He had already been told by President Thomas Jefferson that he would not be part of Jefferson's ticket in the upcoming election, and Burr had been defeated in the recent New York gubernatorial election. Hamilton had vehemently opposed Burr, and Hamilton's remarks about Burr's "despicable" character spurred their duel. Burr spent much of the rest of his life moving from state to state, running away from the murder charge culminating from the duel; he was later charged with treason for political shenanigans in Louisiana and Missouri.

Still in his 40s, Hamilton's death robbed the country of one of its brightest political and financial minds. Although his own career had been tarnished by a blackmail scandal that was made public, Hamilton's economic doctrines were later hailed by both the Whig Party and, later, the Republican Party.