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If anyone is interested in politics, social issues, and the legal system during the nineteenth century, there is a great website focusing on legal history: "Famous Trials" created by law professor Doug Linder. The website has been recently updated and now includes 37 trials plus links to others. Please note the copyright comments.
"Famous Trials" see http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/proj...ls/ftrials.htm
The following are relevant to the nineteenth century. My comments are italicized.
Amistad Trials
This really helps separate fact from fiction. The incident was still talked about in the 1860s and key figures involved in the trial were actively involved in the Civil War. For example, there is an interesting biography on Lewis Tappan -- a key figure in these trials. The Amistad Committee evolved into the American Missionary Association with Tappan as one of the founding members. The AMA was the organization presented by Gen. Butler in helping to solve "the slave problem" and was ultimately given official governmental permission to set up schools in the Union Army camps for former enslaved people. See: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/proj...ppanessay.html
The Dakota Rebellion, 1862
Also called "The Red Scare" during its time. This incident really affected the citizens in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. In some communities, the state militia rounded up folks in the rural areas and forced them into towns. The incident was interpreted at Old World Wisconsin the early 1990s using several primary accounts from citizens. The USV host unit portrayed the local militia and several menfolks shed their uniforms and portrayed farmers along with the female civilians.
Lincoln Assassination Trial
Andrew Johnson Impeachment Trial
I have found this site useful in pulling together some facts when I interpret the social and political issues of the Civil War and hope it is helpful to others.
"Famous Trials" see http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/proj...ls/ftrials.htm
The following are relevant to the nineteenth century. My comments are italicized.
Amistad Trials
This really helps separate fact from fiction. The incident was still talked about in the 1860s and key figures involved in the trial were actively involved in the Civil War. For example, there is an interesting biography on Lewis Tappan -- a key figure in these trials. The Amistad Committee evolved into the American Missionary Association with Tappan as one of the founding members. The AMA was the organization presented by Gen. Butler in helping to solve "the slave problem" and was ultimately given official governmental permission to set up schools in the Union Army camps for former enslaved people. See: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/proj...ppanessay.html
The Dakota Rebellion, 1862
Also called "The Red Scare" during its time. This incident really affected the citizens in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. In some communities, the state militia rounded up folks in the rural areas and forced them into towns. The incident was interpreted at Old World Wisconsin the early 1990s using several primary accounts from citizens. The USV host unit portrayed the local militia and several menfolks shed their uniforms and portrayed farmers along with the female civilians.
Lincoln Assassination Trial
Andrew Johnson Impeachment Trial
I have found this site useful in pulling together some facts when I interpret the social and political issues of the Civil War and hope it is helpful to others.
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