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To Kill a Mockingbird

Scottsboro Trial

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Social and Economic Climate of the 1930s Wall Street Crash (October 1929)

People invested in shares Prices increased Companies bogus

 

 

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Social and Economic Climate of the 1930s The Effect of the Wall

Street Crash People saved money

Withdrew money from banks

Banks collapsed Companies went

bankrupt Result

Loss of jobs, homes, businesses, and land

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1920 1930 1931 1932 1933

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Scottsboro Case Two Huntsville Mill Girls

Hobo to Chattanooga Victoria Price

21 years old Known prostitute Employed at Margaret

spinning mill

Ruby Bates 17 years old Quiet and well behaved Employed at Margaret

spinning mill

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Scottsboro Case

The Alleged Rape According to Price’s

testimony: African-American men

forced white men off train

Six men raped Price and Bates

The Defendants

Accused

1. Haywood Patterson; sentenced to 75 years in prison

2. Charles Weems; sentenced to 75 years in prison

3. Ozie Powell; dropped rape charges and plead guilty to assault on an officer

4. Andy Wright; sentenced to 99 years in prison

5. Olen Montgomery; charges dropped

6. Eugene Williams, charges dropped

7. Willie Roberson; charges dropped

8. Clarence Norris; sentenced to death

9. Roy Wright, 13 years old; charges dropped

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Scottsboro Case

A Lynching Spirit Officials maintain a

peaceful crowd Due to concerns of a lynch

mob, Governor Miller ordered the National Guard to protect the suspects

Armed soldiers on guard inside and outside the courtroom

An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people gather outside the courthouse

Outside the Courtroom

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Scottsboro Case

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Scottsboro Case

The Trial April 6, 1931 – April 9, 1931

Witnesses Price and Bates One white man (collaborated) Nine African-American men Acquaintance of women (did not collaborate) Physician

Eight of nine men sentenced to death Six were identified by Price

A guard said, “If those six had Miss Price, it stand to reason that the others had Miss Bates.”

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Scottsboro Case Trial Continues

November 7, 1932 United States Supreme Court orders new trial March 27, 1933 the new trial begins

Famous New York defense attorney Samuel S. Leibowitz Two physicians refute that multiple rapes occurred Prosecution’ eyewitness farmer claimed he saw the blacks grab Price

and Bates. On cross, Liebowitz asked how he could be sure given the distance and the speed

of the train. The farmer said they were wearing women’s clothes, but Bates and Price were wearing overalls.

Ruby Bates openly denies rapes occurred April 9, 1933 first defendant found guilty

Judge James Horton overturns conviction April 1, 1935 United States Supreme Court reversed all

convictions

In the 1930’s Alabama jurors were not willing to accord a black charged with raping a white woman the usual presumption of innocence. Because of indifferent jurors and career-motivated prosecutors, the self-serving and groundless accusations of a single woman were allowed to change forever the lives of nine black teenagers who found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time

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Parallels Between Scottsboro and Tom Robinson Trials

1930s 1930s

Northern Alabama Southern Alabama

Rape charge by white women against African-American men

Rape charge by a white woman against an African-American man

Poor white status of accusers a critical issue

Poor white status of Mayella a critical issue

Central figure is a heroic judge Central figure is Atticus, who defends an African-American man

Judge goes against public sentiment

Atticus arouses anger in community defending Robinson

Jury ignores evidence Jury ignores evidence

Scottsboro Trial Tom Robinson’s Trial

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To Kill a Mockingbird Historical Background Quiz

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http://www.quia.com/tq/243735.html Complete the To Kill a Mockingbird Background

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