who was the lawyer that defended the man accused of treason?

What was the significance of the Treason Trials?

The treason trials were an extension of the sedition trials of 1792 and 1793 against parliamentary reformers in both England and Scotland. The historical backdrop to the Treason Trials is complex; it involves not only the British parliamentary reform efforts of the 1770s and 1780s but also the French Revolution.

Who was tried for high treason in the Boston Massacre?

Over thirty radicals were initially arrested; three were tried for high treason: Thomas Hardy, John Horne Tooke and John Thelwall. In a repudiation of the government's policies, they were acquitted by three separate juries in November 1794 to great public rejoicing.

What was Thomas Hardy's account of the Treason Trials?

Thomas Hardy's account of the trials (second edition) The 1794 Treason Trials, arranged by the administration of William Pitt, were intended to cripple the British radical movement of the 1790s. Over thirty radicals were arrested; three were tried for high treason: Thomas Hardy, John Horne Tooke and John Thelwall.

Why was Nelson Mandela tried for treason in 1961?

They were accused of participating in a treasonable conspiracy, inspired by international Communism, to overthrow the South African State by violent means. The trial dragged on for four years, with the last accused being acquitted in 1961.

Who was involved in the 1794 Treason Trials?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Thomas Hardy's account of the trials (second edition) The 1794 Treason Trials, arranged by the administration of William Pitt, were intended to cripple the British radical movement of the 1790s. Over thirty radicals were arrested; three were tried for high treason: Thomas ...

Who defended George III?

In February 1794, he was brought to trial and defended by John Gurney. Gurney argued that the comment was an indictment of tyranny in general or of Louis XVI, the king of France, and announced his dismay that anyone could think that the author meant George III.

Why was Eaton arrested?

Daniel Isaac Eaton, the publisher of the popular periodical Politics for the People, was arrested on 7 December 1793 for publishing a statement by John Thelwall, a radical lecturer and debater. Thelwall had made a speech that included an anecdote about a tyrannical gamecock named "King Chanticleer" who was beheaded for its despotism and Eaton reprinted it. Eaton was imprisoned for three months before his trial in an effort to bankrupt him and his family. In February 1794, he was brought to trial and defended by John Gurney. Gurney argued that the comment was an indictment of tyranny in general or of Louis XVI, the king of France, and announced his dismay that anyone could think that the author meant George III. "Gurney went so far as to cheekily suggest that it was the Attorney-General who was guilty of seditious libel; by supplying those innuendos he, not Eaton or Thelwall, had represented George III as a tyrant." Everyone laughed uproariously and Eaton was acquitted; the membership of the radical societies rocketed.

What was the backdrop of the treason trials?

The historical backdrop to the Treason Trials is complex; it involves not only the British parliamentary reform efforts of the 1770s and 1780s but also the French Revolution. In the 1770s and 1780s, there was an effort among liberal-minded Members of Parliament to reform the British electoral system. A disproportionately small number of electors ...

How many sedition cases were there in the 1790s?

In a dramatic increase compared to the rest of the century, there were over 100 prosecutions for sedition in the 1790s alone. The British government, fearing an uprising similar to the French Revolution, took even more drastic steps to quash the radicals.

What was the most important text of the 18th century?

1792 was the " annus mirabilis of eighteenth-century radicalism": its most important texts, such as Rights of Man, were published and the influence of the radical associations was at its height. In fact, it was as a result of the publication of the Rights of Man that such associations began to proliferate.

Why does Reflections argue that citizens do not have the right to revolt against their government?

In Reflections he argues that citizens do not have the right to revolt against their government, because civilizations, including governments, are the result of social and political consensus. If a culture's traditions were challenged, the result would be endless anarchy.

Who authored Nelson Mandela's testimony?

About this site. This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, ...

How long did the trial of Nelson Mandela last?

The trial dragged on for four years, with the last accused being acquitted in 1961. Extracts from the testimony by Mandela in 1960, responding as spokesman for the accused to questions from the bench, the prosecution and the defence lawyers on the content of ANC documents and question of violent intent on the part of those on trial.

How many people were detained in the ANC?

A State of Emergency was proclaimed by the government; over twenty thousand people were detained. The ANC was banned, and so was the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), a splinter group which had broken away from the ANC the previous year over the issue of the ANC's co-operation with non Africans.

What were the only methods of political action adopted by the ANC?

MANDELA: Up to the time that the Youth League was formed and until 1949 the only methods of political action which were adopted by the ANC were purely constitutional; deputations to see the authorities, memoranda, and the mere passing of resolutions.

What was the main concern of Mandela at the time?

Of crucial concern at the time was the situation in Pondoland, in the Transkei, where popular resistance to the imposition of the 'Bantu Authorities' system, mentioned by Mandela in document 5 (f) above, had led to violent police repression and eventually to the deployment of military units against the unarmed people. 1.