Ten Paces

Article V

Hamilton and Burr. Two visions of America, settled at ten paces. This post-punk track uses the most famous duel in American history as a lens into the structural tension the Founders built on purpose — the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances that keeps any one branch from becoming tyrannical. The tension is the point.

For families, classrooms, and anyone who listens with curiosity.

1. 1.

   Why did the Founders deliberately build tension into the structure of government?

2. 2.

   How do the three branches of government check each other's power?

3. 3.

   The Hamilton-Burr duel was a personal conflict — how does it reflect the larger political conflicts of the era?

4. 4.

   Is political disagreement a sign of a healthy republic or a failing one?