Scottsboro Boys Case: America's Faulty Judicial System
Title:
Thesis: American history was infinitely changed by the Scottsboro Boys case; the case exposed the country’s faulty judicial system, along with its civil and ethnic defects.
I. Intro:
A. Thesis: American history was infinitely changed by the Scottsboro Boys case. Through this case, the country’s faulty judicial system was exposed, along with its civil and ethnic defects.
II. What was the reaction of the United States of America to this trial? And how has that changed between the time of the men’s conviction and now?
A. After the first and second trial, despite strong opposing evidence, the country was convinced that no matter the circumstances, two innocent white women had been raped by a group of black men. With the following trials, the country began to come to terms that two of them, Eugene Williams and …show more content…
Previous to this case, rape was always given the death sentence in court, no exceptions or alterations. The Scottsboro Boys trials were the first time in history that anyone charged of rape was convicted with anything other than death.
C. Also, because the Scottsboro Boys were African-American, the country immediately assumed that they were at fault. Concurrently with that time period, African-Americans were believed to be foul, poor, uneducated, and of the lowest class. Prone to these assumptions, the country promptly condemned them and outraged themselves that they had allowed it to happen to white women.
IV. What would have occurred differently if this case had taken place in the twenty-first century?
A. If this case had taken place during the twenty-first century many things would have been different. The Scottsboro Boys trials would not have lasted as long, because after the first trial, the evidence was clear as to the boys’ innocence.
B. In addition, there would have been men and women from many races and cultures found in the jury, not just white males. This would have also influenced the decisions of the jury, during every
Thesis: American history was infinitely changed by the Scottsboro Boys case; the case exposed the country’s faulty judicial system, along with its civil and ethnic defects.
I. Intro:
A. Thesis: American history was infinitely changed by the Scottsboro Boys case. Through this case, the country’s faulty judicial system was exposed, along with its civil and ethnic defects.
II. What was the reaction of the United States of America to this trial? And how has that changed between the time of the men’s conviction and now?
A. After the first and second trial, despite strong opposing evidence, the country was convinced that no matter the circumstances, two innocent white women had been raped by a group of black men. With the following trials, the country began to come to terms that two of them, Eugene Williams and …show more content…
Previous to this case, rape was always given the death sentence in court, no exceptions or alterations. The Scottsboro Boys trials were the first time in history that anyone charged of rape was convicted with anything other than death.
C. Also, because the Scottsboro Boys were African-American, the country immediately assumed that they were at fault. Concurrently with that time period, African-Americans were believed to be foul, poor, uneducated, and of the lowest class. Prone to these assumptions, the country promptly condemned them and outraged themselves that they had allowed it to happen to white women.
IV. What would have occurred differently if this case had taken place in the twenty-first century?
A. If this case had taken place during the twenty-first century many things would have been different. The Scottsboro Boys trials would not have lasted as long, because after the first trial, the evidence was clear as to the boys’ innocence.
B. In addition, there would have been men and women from many races and cultures found in the jury, not just white males. This would have also influenced the decisions of the jury, during every