Timeline (Burr Misses)

Point of Divergence
On July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton engaged in a duel in New Jersey. However, in OTL, Burr shot Alexander Hamilton, causing him to die the next day. Hamilton had wasted his shot, which was meant to show that the opponent was not worth a shot. In this timeline, however, Burr misses Hamilton, while Hamilton still wastes his shot.

Immediate Effects of the Duel
When Hamilton wasted his shot, and Burr missed, Burr was humiliated, and no extra rounds occured in the duel. In a newspaper statement, a witness described what occurred, and the news of Burr's humiliation quickly spread. Soon after, Burr meats with Anthony Merry, the British Minister to the United States. Burr was interested in creating an independent nation in the Louisiana Territory which he would conquer. The British, hearing of Burr's failure, immedialtely decline, instead of considering it.

Meanwhile, Jefferson was in an election. Jefferson was running along with George Clinton and the Federalists nominated Charles Pinckney, with Rufus King as his running mate. Hamilton won a major victory. However, Burr's embarrassment had caused a small bounceback in the Federalist Party, and the formerly declining party gained in the House and Senate. This would increase when accusations began to arise about Aaron Burr. After being turned down in a plot to break off from the government, the rumors of the plot accumulated, and he was charged with treason.