ERA 6: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900)
The President and the Lunatic, by Bruce Watson
Guiding Questions
Is the suppression of public opinion during times of crisis ever justified?
What accounts for ideological changes in society and the government?
Is the assassination of a government official a more egregious crime than the murder of an ordinary citizen?
Question Focus Examples for Task 24:
Capital punishment can be an appropriate penalty.
“Insane” criminals deserve sympathy and treatment, not punishment.
Assassination of James Garfield
Teacher-to-Teacher
This article frames a backdrop for a debate/discussion on one of the more “emotionally loaded” issues in American society. This collection includes a recount of Garfield’s assassination, as well as an examination of the issue of Charles Guiteau’s sanity, and the history and broader implications of the insanity defense in today’s society.
Literature Connection: The Alienist, by Caleb Carr
- The President and the Lunatic (Spring 2011 | Volume: 61, Issue: 1) articles_ah
- Historical photograph of the assassination of President Garfield historical_images
- The President Dead- September 19, 1881 historical_documents
- The Trial of Charles Guiteau: An Account- Excerpt historical_documents
- Charles Guiteau Letter to William T. Sherman historical_documents
- Insanity Defense Overview historical_documents
- The Insanity Defense: An Intersection of Morality, Public Policy, and Science historical_documents