Hamilton Lesson Plan

Why did Hamilton endorse Jefferson over Burr? What does his choice say about each man?

Hamilton, per his own lyric, endorses Jefferson because he believes Jefferson acts on his own beliefs, while Burr acts for his own self-promotion. Burr has "waited for it" so long that he's never developed a real political position. Burr wants to be an insider; he wants to win; he doesn't know what he'll do when he does. Jefferson, though ideologically opposed to Hamilton, seems to Hamilton like someone who will make choices for ethical reasons, which Hamilton imagines he would do himself. Although they're on opposing sides, Hamilton and Jefferson share a similar character, which Hamilton...