Verdict of History final
Scopes Trial
1920s was a time where people held a firm grip on traditional values. People had strong fundamentalist values. Many cultural tensions which is why this case is so controversial. -In 1925- Butler act, illegal to present theories that were not accounted by in the bible Tennessee law stated it was illegal to teach evolution in classrooms John scopes, high school teacher who was teaching Charles Darwin evolution in classrooms The trial- William Jennings Bryan who was trying to eliminate the teaching of evolution in classrooms Defense team lawyer- clarence Darrow, came to defend scopes and challenge Bryans views. Darrow argued that is violated john scopes freedom to express his own views Outcome- John scopes was found guilty because he presents darwin's theory, and charged a $100 fine Significance- case that really challenged science vs. education. It brought attention to america and as a result allowed people to gain their academic freedom and the freedom of scientific inquiry.
Nuremberg Trial
After the war, some of those responsible for crimes committed during the Holocaust were brought to trial. Nuremberg, Germany, was chosen as a site for trials that took place in 1945 and 1946. Judges from the Allied powers—Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States—presided over the hearings of twenty-two major Nazi criminals. -Twelve trials involving over 100 defendants and several different courts -First Nuremberg trial was very popular- trial of 21 war criminals -President franklin roosevelt asked the war department to come up with a plan for bringing war criminals to justice- came up with treating the nazi regime as a criminal conspiracy the defendants, who included Nazi Party officials and high-ranking military officers along with German industrialists, lawyers and doctors, were indicted on such charges as crimes against peace and crimes against humanity. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) committed suicide and was never brought to trial -In the first trial, the major war criminal trial, they found all but 3 of the defendants guilty -For the rest of the trials, some received death sentences, others life in prison and other prison terms of varying lengths Significance- Although they were regarded as controversial at the time, they are known to be a milestone toward the establishment of permanent international court and an important guide in dealing with later instances of genocide and crimes against humanity
The Rosenberg Trial
During cold war late 40's early 50's, led to the red scare and was fueled by the rapidly growing soviet union -soviets launched a new nuclear test in 1949 and the nation became paranoid that the only way they could launch a nuclear test is through spies -Americans were convinced that it was russian or american spies who were passing nuclear secrets to russia Julius and Ethel rosenberg-both born into jewish families, married in 1939 -they were turned in by ethel's brother in law and a chemist who both admitted that they were involved in some spying but since they cooperated with the government they received a lesser sentence- did not receive death sentence -Both julius and ethel were arrested for passing atomic secrets to the soviets The trial- many believe the evidence against them was not strong and the rosenbergs appealed to the court 7 times but never got a hearing -despite having flimsy or circumstantial evidence, they were both convinced of violating the espionage act of 1917- violating national security and if found guilty, sentenced to death -court made it clear that if they admitted their guilt, they could avoid execution significance- trial led to the beginning of the end of the red scare because they felt they were executed because there was such paranoia in the country at the time and two people were executed falsely People started to question everything because two people were executed not 100 percent knowing if they were guilty or not, but mainly because of the paranoia in America
John Brown Trial
He was an abolitionist of slavery, he was a station master of the underground railroad. He wanted to secure justice. Brown's plan was to attack Harpers ferry which was a town that was surrounded by the potomac and shenandoah rivers. it was a town that manufactured more weapons than any other in the south, housing almost 200,000 weapons stored in the US armory. He wanted to take the arsenal, arm freed slaves in the vicinity and retreat to the mountains where they could mount additional raids to free more slaves. His raid did not go as planned- he expected the slaves to rebel against their white masters, some thought they were being sold to the south -Marines arrived at fort lee and demanded brown to surrender which he rejected, brown and four of his surrounding men were imprisoned Trial 1859- for murder conspiracy and treason; defense argued that he didn't kill anyone and he had no loyal duty to virginia so he could not be charged with treason, the Outcome: jury found brown guilty of murder, conspiracy and treason and he was to be hanged in public Significance- the 13th amendment of he constitution about abolishing slavery is ratified
Amistad Trial
In 1839, fifty-three illegally purchased African slaves being transported from Cuba on the ship Amistad managed to seize control of the vessel. They killed two crew members and ordered the remainder to head for Africa. But by altering course at night, when the position of the sun did not reveal the ship's course, they sailed in a northeasterly direction. Eventually, the Amistad was intercepted by an American brig off the coast of Long Island. Africans were freed by the Americans, and the slaves were imprisoned. President Martin Van Buren, along with many newspaper editors, favored extraditing the Africans to Cuba. Outcome: At a hearing in Hartford, a federal district court judge ruled that the Africans were not liable for their actions because they had been enslaved illegally. The case then proceeded on appeal to the Supreme Court, where former president John Quincy Adams, defending the Africans, argued that they should be granted their freedom. The Court agreed, ruling that since the international slave trade was illegal. Significance: The Amistad Case became one of the most important slavery cases that the nation had ever seen. It was a case that proved to be a stepping stone in the fight against slavery
Brown V. Board Education trial
In 1876, Kansas required that all of its public schools be open to all students, regardless of their race. Just three years later, however, the legislature backed away from its enlightened approach to racial issues, and authorized school boards in cities of over 15,000 persons to establish separate black and white schools for elementary and junior high students. esther brown, a crusader for equal education opportunities in Kansas, would launch a campaign to end segregation in Kansas schools. With the help of the NAACP, the petitioned Topeka's school board to end racial segregation within their schools During the trial, NAACP attorney Robert Carter called witnesses to the stand where parents of black children revealed that the commute to the all-black school was rather dangerous and inconvienent and far, while there was an all-white school with better conditions really close by. Topeka's school board testified that they would provide black and white schools on an equal basis but they would not integrate them. On may 17th, the court came to an unanimous decision that racial discrimination in public education is unconstitutional 1955: supreme court rules they were to implement the principles which the supreme court decided in the first brown case. Significance: It gave the civil rights movement a push and overruled segregation in schools, stating that it was unequal.
Adolf Eichmann trial
In 1961, the world watched there 1st televised courtroom trial. The case surrounded Lieutenant Colonel Adolf Eichmann for crimes against the jewish people. He was responsible for deporting jews of europe to concentration camps. The trial was said to be televised to educate the people that came of age after world war 2 about the atrocities that happened during the holocaust. Eichmann was the target of a 15 year manhunt by the Israeli's where he was eventually captured and forced to stand trial as a war criminal. Eichmann sat enclosed in a glass booth during the trial as the israeli's feared someone would try to kill him before the trial was over. Outcome: Eichmann was found guilty on all 15 counts of the criminal indictment against him. he was hanged and his body was cremated. Significance: The trial since it was broadcasted on television, brought attention to the holocaust. Holocaust survivors did not speak about their ordeals but the trial was an almost stepping stone for the surviviors as more and more people started to tell their tales, and people were educated on how brutal the holocaust really was.
Mississippi Trial
In early 1960's there was a lot of hostility in Mississippi. Most of mississippi defied federal direction regarding racial integration In june 1964, 3 civil rights workers were abducted and murdered in Mississippi. There were working on the freedom summer campaign, attempting to prepare and register african americans to vote. Mississippi passed laws so that african americans could not vote which is why the 3 civil rights workers were there to help make improvement -The white Knights Klu Klux Klan was created by samuel bowers and was a very prominent group in mississipi, recruiting many members -They were preparing for invasion from the north -ALot of violence was taken place due to the KKK involving african americans -After an investigation of the 3 missing civil rights workers, the KKK were responsible as well as The Neshoba country sheriffs office and the Mississippi police department. -It sparked national outrage -The united states federal government charged 18 people were charged with civil rights violations of 1967 , seven were convicted and received relatively minor sentences for their actions Significance- outrage over the activists disappearances led to help gain passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Lenny Bruce Trial
Lenny Bruce was a comedian who entertained people following the very conservative times post world war 2 -All of his acts involved profanity and brutal honesty which led him to be very popular -early 1960's california authorities claimed his act was obscene -he was tired of being harassed by the state of california so he took his act to new york city -two undercover investigators went to his shows and based on the info they gave, the district's attorney office was able to convince a grand jury to in indict Lenny bruce for violating New York city's obscenity law The trial- prosecution seemed to really hurt lenny bruce as many of it was recordings from his shows. many thought his acts were unacceptable and inappropriate for that time period -big issue during the trial was the idea of censorship and freedom of speech. Lenny bruce should be allowed to perform without being harassed and free from censorship -sentenced to four months in prison, he appealed the conviction but later died of an overdose before it ever reached the court Significance- played a key role in the free speech movement his stand up act changed the first amendment environment and the idea of prosecuting a comedian overall ended after lenny bruce. Legacy opened up the comedy club to the greatest free speech zone in america.Lenny Bruce's trial led to other comedians for years to come to be able to perform in the way they want to without worrying about censorship or harassment from others.
O.j. Simpson Trial
One of the most famous cases throughout history involving national football league star and actor Orenthal james simpson for the death of his ex wife nicole brown simpson and waiter ronald lyle goldman -murders took place in use 1994. with evidence collected at the scene, they were able to issue an arrest warrant for simpson. -simpson pleaded not guilty for the double murder charge - When the trial began it was televised by court T.V. and the prosecution started the trial by playing a 911 call are by simpsons ex wife fearing that he would physically harm her. -the prosecution also presented may expert witnesses that presented dna fingerprinting and blood and shoe analysis -simpsons defense team known as the "dream team" argued that he was a victim of police fraud -On october 3rd 1995, O.j. simpson was found not guilty Significance- known to be one of the most controversial cases as many believed simpson was guilty. many jurors who were on the case said that they believed Simpson probably did commit the murders but the prosecution did not do a good job in presenting the case. There were many errors and mistakes made in this case which is another reason why it is so popular. It set back racism progress in the United States due to race being a very big problem after the trial and many believed the decision was made due to the jury being primarily black. This case revealed how different white and black people viewed things and how their thoughts on this case were enormously different as many whites believed Simpson was guilty and many blacks believed he was not. If all the errors, mistakes and racism factors was to be avoided, the outcome of this case could have been much different.
Leopold and Loeb Trial
The crime that captured americas attention in 1924. The case surrounds an 18 year old Richard Loeb, a wealthy and privileged teenager, loeb was obsessed with crime, He had a partner in crime, Nathan Leopold who was also a child of wealth and opportunity. they spent months planning th perfect crime which included kidnapping a child of wealthy parents, demanding ransom and collecting the ransom. They kidnapped an acquaintance of them, bobby franks. Loeb ended up brutally killing franks and then sending a ransom note to his family. the family did not comply after they had been tipped off that their son was murdered. leopold's glasses were found at the crime scene that linked them to the crime. Their defense attorney, clarence darrow persuaded the boys to change their plea's from not guilty to guilty, suggesting an insanity defense. During the trial, the defense presented extensive psychiatric evidence that tried to prove the boys were mentally unstable. (the judge would decide if they would face the death penalty or not. Darrow's closing statement spanned three days and still is one of the most perfected argument in a US courtroom. Outcome: Judge cavalry ruled life in prison instead of death penalty for the boys. Significance; darrow's closing statement about the death penalty caused a major reversal in American attitudes towards capital punishment
Emmett Till Murder
The death of Emmett Till shocked the nation as it took place during the 1950's and ignited a spark for the civil rights movement. Surrounding the case, it was a time where white people could get away with almost anything. Till was just fourteen was he was accused of harassing a women of a grocery store. Days after this happened the relatives of this woman, her brother and husband, came to kidnap Till. The two men then beat him to death, gouged out his eye and shot him in the head. During his funeral, his mother opted to have an open casket despite his unrecognizable face to show the world how cruel people can be during the time of segregation and discrimination. During the trial, roy brant and J.w. Milam stood before an all white jury. At this time, it was almost unheard of for a black person to accuse a white person of killing someone in court. Milan and Bryant had a high chance of leaving the courtroom found not guilty. outcome: The white jurors acquitted bryant and Milam of all charges and they were found not guilty. Signifcance: It ignited a spark for the civil rights movement. Just 100 days after the trail, rosa parks refused to give her seat up for a white man. People started to started to stand up for themselves against acts of segregation and discrimination. This case saved the way for the civil rights movement
Falwell v flint
the November 1983 issue of Hustler Magazine featured a parody of an advertisement for Campari Liqueur that had the name and picture of reverend jerry falwell, and was entitled "Jerry Falwell talks about his first time." The parody was designed to mimic other Campari ads, which pointed to the idea of the "first time" someone tasted Campari Liqueur. larry flynt launched a career in the entertainment world and was responsible for coming up with this parody ad. The parody depicted falwell's first time as a drunken, incestuous encounter with his mother in an outhouse. falwell brought suit against Petitioners, alleging invasion of privacy, libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The district court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit found for Petitioner on the defamation and invasion of privacy claims, on the basis that no reasonable person would consider the parody as true. The same courts held for Respondent on the issue of intentional infliction of emotional distress. . Outcome: Falwell won a jury verdict on the emotional distress claim and was awarded a total of $150,000 in damages. Hustler Magazine appealed. Significance: In brought into question whether the 1st amendment extend to the making of offensive statements about public figures resulting in them suffering emotional distress
