Mock Trial #1—People v King George III
Prosecution (π)—People of the United Colonies of North America (see the indictment in the Declaration of Independence for charges against George III)
1. Attorney-in-Chief, Thomas Jefferson—main author of the Declaration of Independence and secured money for the Colonists cause from France; cross-examines the Defense Witnesses after Defense Attorneys question each in direct
2. Attorney for the People of Massachusetts, John Adams—defended the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre, but a total patriot will question Prosecution Witnesses
3. Attorney for the People of New York, Thomas Paine—author of Common Sense and a real revolutionary; questions Prosecution Witnesses
4. Attorney for the People of Virginia: John Jay – first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; questions Prosecution Witnesses
Witnesses for the Prosecution (π)—each must know what s/he stood for and how one’s testimony may be used to benefit the Colonial Cause, but also the weakness of its side to prepare for cross-examination by the Defense (Δ)
4. Alexander Hamilton—aide to Washington during the Revolution as well as his confidante
5. Crispus Attucks—one of the first casualties of the Revolution (Boston Massacre), a run-away African American
6. Patrick Henry—famous for his “give me liberty or give me death” speech
7. Paul Revere—Boston silversmith best known as the rider who warned the Minutemen at Lexington and Concord
8. Daniel Boone—frontiersman angry with the Proclamation of 1763 prohibiting settlement across the Appalachians
9. Abigail Adams—wife of John Adams and representative of the “Republican Motherhood” holding down the fort as the “men-fold” fought
10. Samuel Adams—cousin of John Adams, but very radical; most likely organized the Boston Tea Party and a smuggler
11. George Washington—a colonel in the British army during the French and Indian War; appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army by the Congress
12. Samuel Thompson—Massachusetts Minuteman who fought in Lexington and Concord and may have fired the “shot heard around the world”
13. John Hancock—very wealthy merchant who became the president of the Continental Congress
14. Marquis de Lafayette—French nobleman who volunteered to train American colonists during the Revolution and stayed to fight along side them
15. Benjamin Franklin—Colonial thinker and scientist who helped to write both the Declaration and the Constitution; secured a great deal of money for the Revolution from the French and Russian monarchs
16. Baron Friedrich von Steuben—Prussian nobleman who came to the Colonies to train and drill Americans
17. Edmund Burke—Irish member of the British Parliament who supported the Colonists as they sought representation or independence
Defense (Δ)—King George III of Britain has been charged with a long list of complaints or grievances by the People of the British North American Colonies
18. Attorney-in-Chief, Lord Frederick North—British Prime Minister and proponent of heavy taxes on the Colonies to pay for British expenses to defend the Colonies during the French and Indian War; will cross-examine Prosecution Witnesses after direct examination by the People’s attorney
19. Attorney William Pitt the Elder—British Prime Minister and personal friend of George III believes in liberty, but loyalty to Britain and George is his primary characteristic; asks direct examination of Δ Witnesses
20. Attorney Augustus FitzRoy—British Prime Minister who is given credit for overcoming challenges to the British Empire; he will ask direct questions of the King’s Witnesses
21. Thomas Hutchinson – British Merchant who also served as governor of Massachusetts. His house was burned during the Stamp Act; he asks direct questions of King’s witnesses
Witnesses for the Defense (Δ)—each must know what s/he stood for and how one’s testimony may be used to benefit the King’s Cause, but also the weakness of its side to prepare for cross-examination by the Prosecution (π)
22. George III—King of Great Britain is the Defendant; he’s charged with crimes against humanity, tyranny, and violation of the civil rights of his Colonial subjects; he maintains his innocence and privilege of the Crown
23. George Townshend—British “treasurer” or Exchequer or authored the “intolerable acts” including the taxes on tea, sugar and stamps; he believed the Colonists should pay for the French and Indian War, Royal-appointed governors and officials, and be restricted in trade with all goods going on British ships through British ports
24. Joseph Brant Thayendenegea—Mohawk leader who lead troops against the Colonists fearful of their intentions on the lands of his people
25. George Murray—4th Earl of Dunmore and Governor of Virginia who promised African American slaves freedom if they fought with the British; eventually 100,000 former slaves did so, fleeing to Canada after the Revolution
26. David George—African American Loyalist who fought in the Revolution on the British side; like many others, he fled first to Nova Scotia, Canada and then to Sierra Leone
27. Benjamin Thompson—Loyalist Colonel/military leader, a physicist who gave “inside information” to the British and rewarded by George III for his help against the Americans
28. William Franklin—son of Benjamin Franklin, last Royal Governor of New Jersey; exiled to Britain where he died
29. Peggy Shippen Arnold— wife of Benedict Arnold, spy as a Philadelphia socialite who carried secret information to the British Army; probably convinced Arnold to change sides
30. General William Howe—Commander-in-Chief of the British forces during the Revolution; captured New York City and Philadelphia
31. General John Burgoyne— lost Saratoga, turning the Revolution toward American victory, and assuring French monetary help; although disgraced, remains loyal to the Crown
32. William Legge—Secretary of State for the Colonies, appointed by George III to enforce all British policies
33. Philippe-Francois deRastel deRocheblave—commander of French, Spanish, and British troops; one of many French Canadians who sided with the British because of the Quebec Act giving preference to Catholic French people in Canada over British colonials in land grants after 1763
34. Eyre Coote—Anglo-Irish soldier taken prisoner at the end of the War during the Battle of Yorktown.