Three powerful men, James Madison, Aaron Burr, and General James Wilkinson, collide in a tale of treason that puts the future of the nation and its democracy at stake. James Madison, the Secretary of State, is the unlikely hero whose icy nerves and powerful intellect may win the day.

Aaron Burr, elected Vice President in 1800, has shattered the trust he enjoyed by trying to steal the presidency from under Jefferson's nose. Stripped of power, Burr kills Hamilton in a raging duel and flees a murder indictment. Aaron Burr is a ruined man.

Enter the arch-villain of American history, General James Wilkinson, the only US Commander known to have committed treason. Working for Spain, Wilkinson seduces Burr with a dream of stealing the whole Louisiana Territory.

This is a story of ambitions and dreams shattered. It is a tale of intrigue and greed, surrounding the powerful figures in American history, who are unable to see the consequences of their visions. It is the story of a young democracy. It is the American story.