Law and Politics Chapters

What the law requires (or allows) is not always fair or just or honorable. Politics is often polarizing. Stories in this collection help us to examine the highs and lows of "the law" over the centuries.

Standard 8-4:4 The student will demonstrate an understanding of the multiple events that led to the Civil War

Congress passes a draft law to recruit men to fight for the Union, but it allows wealthy men to buy their way out of service.

For nearly a week in July 1863, New Yorkers riot against the Conscription Law.

The colonists balk at English rule, laying the groundwork for the revolution and questions about the imposition of laws.

Oliver Powers, father of the downed U-2 pilot, first conceives the idea that his son could be exchanged for Rudolf Abel. In other words: Exchange a sp...

Penn goes "against the crown" and must defend himself in London's Old Bailey.

A lesson plan to make your school's elections presidential.

Oliver Wendell Holmes writes a Supreme Court decision which allows people to say what they think but not necessarily avoid punishment.

On October 22, 1962, JFK tells the American people about the Cuban missile crisis.

Britain's "high society" is closed to all who are not born into the upper class.

To resolve the missile crisis, America removes obsolete missiles in Turkey but replaces them with missiles on nuclear submarines.

Creating rebellious ideas, religious leaders insist that fighting a tyrant is a Christian duty.

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