Virginia v. John Brown (2020)

Teacher Resources - Getting Started

Educators - If you are interested in bringing a mock trial to life in your very own classroom, then there are a few things to know before diving in!

1. A mock trial is WORTH IT! When I was in the 8th grade, my history teacher had us participate in a mock trial of John Brown and it has stuck with me all these years. Bringing civic education into the classroom is crucial for the formation of a youth who actively participates in our government. Please feel free to read more about my experience implementing a mock trial over at iCivics.
2. It is time consuming, but the more prepared you are, the better off you are. So, please start by familiarizing yourself with John Brown, his ideals, and the events that took place at Harpers Ferry. I have included a video and article by Smithsonian to get you started and I actually use both of these resources with my 8th graders, they are just that good!
3. Please feel free to take all of the resources I have on this website. Also, you can take what I have done and alter it for a different court case besides Virginia v. John Brown (1859). There are plenty of court cases in our history that students can get invested in. In years to come, my students will forget the details of what happened on the night of October 16, 1859, but they won't forget cross examining a witness/fellow classmate or the moment the jury foreperson read the verdict after deliberating for an hour.

A special thank you to all the sources I pulled from to put this website and the mock trial together!

• My 8th grade history teacher and the reason why I even thought of implementing the mock trial of John Brown in my own classroom - Mr. John Lauster
• Jeanie Wallace over at mswallaceonline.weebly.com/john-brown-mock-trial-instructions.html
• Another excellent starting point johnbrownmartin.weebly.com/case-outline.html
• Smithsonian, iCivics, and the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History.