Dueling "for honor" largely ended by the turn of the 20th century due to a combination of legal crackdowns, changing social values, and the rise of modern institutions. Historically, dueling was a way for aristocrats to settle disputes in regions where the court system was slow or untrustworthy (like the post-Civil War American South). However, as central governments grew more powerful and "state capacity" increased, the rule of law became the preferred way to settle grievances. Public opinion also shifted after high-profile tragedies—such as the Hamilton-Burr duel—making the practice seem barbaric and senseless. Additionally, the rise of impersonal banking and credit systems meant that a man's "honor" (his reputation) was no longer the only way to prove his creditworthiness, removing the economic necessity of defending one's name with a pistol. By the early 1900s, what was once a "rational" defense of status became a criminal act punishable by long prison sentences.