Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Prep Guide for Exam Success!

The correct choice is Aaron Burr, who, after serving as Vice President under Thomas Jefferson, was tried for treason in 1807. His trial stemmed from accusations related to his alleged conspiracy to create an independent nation in the western territories of the United States. The trial was significant as it examined the limits of treason under the U.S. Constitution and established important legal precedents regarding the definition of treasonous acts.

Burr was acquitted largely due to a lack of concrete evidence against him, as the prosecution failed to prove that he had actually levied war against the United States, which is a key requirement for a treason conviction. This case underscored the challenges in proving treason and set a high bar for future treason trials.

The other individuals mentioned did not face treason trials. John Breckinridge served as a Vice President during the Civil War and was a Confederate general; John Calhoun was a prominent politician and theorist who championed states' rights; Garret Hobart served as Vice President under William McKinley but was not involved in any treason accusations. Thus, Burr's trial stands out in U.S. history as a notable event concerning treason and its judicial interpretation.