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Not to mention Hamilton's words as he lay mortally wounded explained why he shot well over Burr's head -- he said that as a Christian man he could not shoot another man in a duel.

Actually, Hamilton wrote in a letter the night before the duel that he was morally opposed to dueling and was planning to pass his shot. Dueling was largely ceremonial at this time, and was on its way out. It was already illegal in New York, and was in the process of being outlawed in New Jersey. It should be noted that Hamilton had previously been involved in 10 "shotless" duels. Burr, for his part said the following day that he was aiming for Hamilton's heart, but mist got in his eye. He indicted for murder, but later acquitted. The legacy of the duel is that the Federalist Party, the party of Washington and Adams was finished, as was the political career of presidential hopeful Adams.

That being said, the fact that the duel is the first thing that some conservatives think of when the remember Hamilton is a testament to the fact that Jefferson spent the rest of his life doing everything he could to discredit Hamilton's reputation. America as we know it would certainly not exist had it not been for Alexander Hamilton.