BOOK GUIDES
Cherokee Nation Mock Trial
CLOSING ARGUMENTS
Prosecution Attorney: The Cherokee Nation was a recognized, sovereign people who followed the laws and upheld their treaties. The Indian Removal Act disregarded these legal rights, Supreme Court rulings, and basic humanity. The forced removal resulted in death and trauma that still echoes today. Justice was denied then. Let us symbolically deliver it now. Defense Attorney: We must judge the past with the context of its time. The Indian Removal Act was a law, passed through democratic means, with the intent to avoid bloodshed. While tragic, it was a legal and strategic decision made during a complex era.
JURY DELIBERATION Was the Indian Removal Act legal according to U.S. law and treaties? Was the act ethical in its treatment of the Cherokee Nation? What symbolic verdict will you render today?
Judge: Jury, you may now deliberate and return with your verdict. (End of Script)
Optional Additions: Student-created exhibits (maps, treaties, historical quotes) Rubrics for evaluating participation, historical accuracy, and argumentation Reflection writing prompt: How does this trial connect to present-day discussions of tribal sovereignty and historical justice?
Page 52
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator