An awakening and a nightmare : the diverse meanings of the Chicago conspiracy trial

This is a study of the Chicago Conspiracy trial of 1969-1970, where eight radical leaders were tried in connection to the riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the meanings of the trial to American society in 1970 and from today's historical vantage point. Differing from first-hand accounts of the trial in the early 1970s, this study examines the different public perspectives of the trial through the use of such primary sources as underground newspapers, the defendants' writings, and appeals documents. Particular attention is devoted to the interpersonal relationships between the leading participants of the trial (the judge, attorneys, defendants, jurors, journalists, and spectators).The thesis is organized to highlight the major issues and controversies of the trial, while still addressing the personalities involved in the case. The context of the trial in an era of active American radicalism is examined both before and after the case was tried. An entire chapter is devoted to examining the diverse participants in the trial and the different roles they played in the event. Since the trial was so controversial because of legal issues and the conduct of the courtroom participants, a chapter has been devoted to both of these areas. Paticular attention is paid to events precipitating the prosecution of the eight radicals, including the Chicago Convention disorders and the federal grand jury that handed down the indictments. This organization lays a foundation for exploring the contemporary and historical significances of the trial in the conclusion of the study.Thesis (M.A.