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橡树下的林荫大道，是古老的决斗场地 (路易斯安那州纽澳良市)
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亚历山大．汉弥尔顿 (Alexander
Hamilton) 与安伦波 (Aaron
Burr) 在1804年7月11日举行的死亡决斗
站在纽泽西的威霍肯高地 (Heights
of Weehasken) 上，汉弥尔顿与安伦波朝对方射击。有些人说汉弥尔顿故意射偏了，但是安伦波的子弹却重创了汉弥尔顿。隔天，汉弥尔顿因而死亡，而安伦波则安全逃走了。
虽然这很难令人相信，但是以决斗来解决歧见，乃是从独立革命以来就有的习惯。但是在1804年的时候，若决斗双方都是政治人物时，那么决斗在纽约州并不合法。安伦波被控以谋杀罪，但是这个指控最后被撤销了。
幸运的是，现今的政治家透过言语辩论与媒体监督的方式来化解歧见。决斗与其他暴力方式绝对不是解决问题最好的方法。在决斗的过程中，失败的那方损失的绝对比他的立场更多；他会失去他的生命。
Standing on the heights of Weehawken, New Jersey, Hamilton and Burr fired their pistols. Some people said that Hamilton purposely missed Burr. Burr's shot, however, fatally wounded Hamilton, leading to his death the following day. Aaron Burr escaped unharmed.
Hard to believe, but settling differences with a duel had been the custom before the Revolution. In 1804, however, dueling was no longer legal in the state of New York, where both men were political leaders. Burr was indicted for murder, but the charges were later dropped.
Fortunately, politicians today use debates and the press to settle their differences. Dueling and other violence have never been an intelligent way to solve a problem. In a duel, the loser lost more than just an argument; he lost his life.
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