Trials Final

Voltaire

Who: French Enlightenment writer and philosopher
What: Criticized religious intolerance and abuse of power
Why important: Influenced ideas about freedom of speech, religion, and justice; connected to the Jean Calas case

Glorious Revolution

What: Bloodless overthrow of King James II in England
Who: William and Mary took the throne
Why important: Limited monarchy and increased parliamentary power
Need to know: Led to constitutional monarchy and influenced later democratic ideas

Mutiny Act (1689)

What: English law controlling the military
Why important: Prevented the king from maintaining a standing army without Parliament’s consent
Need to know: Increased Parliament’s authority over the monarchy

Riot Act (1714)

What: British law allowing authorities to disperse groups of 12+ people
Why important: If crowd refused to disperse after being read the act, force could legally be used
Need to know: Symbol of government control over protests and public gatherings

Mercantilism

What: Economic system where colonies benefited the mother country
Why important: Britain controlled colonial trade and resources
Need to know: Major cause of colonial resentment before the American Revolution

“Dying Declaration”

What: Statement made by a dying person about the cause of death
Why important: Can be admitted as evidence in court despite hearsay rules
Need to know: Courts assume people are unlikely to lie before death

Bill of Rights (British)

What: English document limiting the monarchy’s power
Why important: Guaranteed rights such as free elections and protection from cruel punishment
Need to know: Influenced the U.S. Bill of Rights

Townshend Acts (1767)

What: British taxes on imported goods in the American colonies
Why important: Angered colonists over “taxation without representation”
Need to know: Increased tensions leading to the American Revolution

Crispus Attucks

Who: First person killed in the Boston Massacre
Why important: Became a symbol of resistance against British rule
Need to know: Often considered the first martyr of the American Revolution

“The Bordereau”

What: Document used as evidence against Alfred Dreyfus
Why important: Accused Dreyfus of spying for Germany
Need to know: Handwriting evidence was weak and contributed to wrongful conviction

“J’Accuse!”

Who: Written by Émile Zola
What: Open letter accusing the French government of injustice in the Dreyfus Affair
Why important: Defended Alfred Dreyfus and exposed corruption and antisemitism
Need to know: Famous example of journalism challenging injustice

Devil's Island

What: Remote prison colony where Alfred Dreyfus was sent
Why important: Symbolized the harsh punishment and injustice of the Dreyfus Affair
Need to know: Dreyfus was falsely convicted before later being cleared

The Descent of Man

Who: Written by Charles Darwin
What: Book explaining human evolution through natural selection
Why important: Challenged traditional religious beliefs about creation
Need to know: Important background to the Scopes Trial

“Modernist” Christianity

What: Religious movement accepting science and evolution alongside Christianity
Why important: Opposed fundamentalist interpretations of the Bible
Need to know: Central conflict during the Scopes Trial era

William Jennings Bryan

Who: Prosecutor in the Scopes Trial; famous politician and religious fundamentalist
Why important: Defended biblical creationism against evolution
Need to know: Represented traditional religious values during the trial

Butler Law

What: Tennessee law banning the teaching of evolution in public schools
Why important: Led directly to the Scopes “Monkey” Trial
Need to know: Reflected conflict between science and religion

H. L. Mencken

Who: Journalist who covered the Scopes Trial
Why important: Mocked fundamentalism and criticized the trial
Need to know: Influential reporter shaping public opinion on the case

Reserve Clause

What: Rule binding baseball players to one team unless traded or released
Why important: Limited player freedom and bargaining power
Need to know: Major issue in baseball labor history

Arnold Rothstein

Who: Gambler linked to the 1919 Black Sox Scandal
Why important: Allegedly financed the fixing of the World Series
Need to know: Symbol of corruption in professional sports

Kenesaw Mountain Landis

Who: First commissioner of Major League Baseball
Why important: Banned players involved in the Black Sox Scandal
Need to know: Helped restore public trust in baseball after gambling scandals