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The Devil on Trial: Witches, Anarchists, Atheists, Communists, and Terrorists in America's Courtrooms
Featuring five famous trials, this book examines the way our right to a fair trial can be threatened, when people are tempted to abandon their principles in the name of safety. Trials included are the Salem Witch Trials, the Haymarket Affair Trial, the Scopes “Monkey” Trial, the trial of Alger Hiss, and the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui—the latter not yet covered extensively in any book.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 4, 2023
I did not realize when I purchased this book that it was considered a YA book, or I would have known to pass on it and seek out a different history. I also feel a little guilty when I evaluate a book when I know I am not the intended audience, but must admit that the simplicity and the author’s clear intent to not just present history but interpret it, were drawbacks for me.
The author addresses five trials in which he feels the justice system itself was in error and failed to do what it should have done because it was swept up into the public opinion or hysteria. The first of these were the Salem witch trials (which is what brought me to this book in the first place), but sadly I failed to come away with any information which I did not already possess. The senselessness of this event always robs me of breath, however.
The second was the Haymarket riots in Chicago, a bit of history I knew of, but without knowing any details at all. This was a reaction to the rise of the labor movement and the rise of sometimes violent anarchists that accompanied it. A number of police officers died in the Haymarket area when a bomb was thrown into their ranks and a peaceful protest turned deadly. The organizers of the rally were charged along with a man whose residence contained evidence of bomb making materials. There is little doubt that three of the four men hanged were innocent of anything beyond encouraging an anarchist view of labor issues.
The third, and the last of any true interest for me, was a recount of the Scopes Monkey Trial. I read Inherit the Wind many years ago, and even though it is a fictionalized account of the trial, I found it both more interesting and more informative in many ways than the account here.
The final two, the trial of Alger Hiss, which addresses McCarthyism, and that of Zacarias Moussaoui, which addresses terrorism, were all too familiar to me. In the final case, I am not sure this author had enough remove to be an unprejudiced judge himself.
I felt this could have been a much more interesting and dynamic book, given the choice of subject matter. It was entirely too dry and juvenile for my tastes, but an easy and quick read, so not a chore to get through. There have most certainly been some major miscarriages of justice in our system over the centuries, and will surely be more to come. Of course, they say hind-sight is 20/20, but I’m not sure we can look back on these cases, excepting the Salem Witch Trials, and always see them clearly, even now.
The author addresses five trials in which he feels the justice system itself was in error and failed to do what it should have done because it was swept up into the public opinion or hysteria. The first of these were the Salem witch trials (which is what brought me to this book in the first place), but sadly I failed to come away with any information which I did not already possess. The senselessness of this event always robs me of breath, however.
The second was the Haymarket riots in Chicago, a bit of history I knew of, but without knowing any details at all. This was a reaction to the rise of the labor movement and the rise of sometimes violent anarchists that accompanied it. A number of police officers died in the Haymarket area when a bomb was thrown into their ranks and a peaceful protest turned deadly. The organizers of the rally were charged along with a man whose residence contained evidence of bomb making materials. There is little doubt that three of the four men hanged were innocent of anything beyond encouraging an anarchist view of labor issues.
The third, and the last of any true interest for me, was a recount of the Scopes Monkey Trial. I read Inherit the Wind many years ago, and even though it is a fictionalized account of the trial, I found it both more interesting and more informative in many ways than the account here.
The final two, the trial of Alger Hiss, which addresses McCarthyism, and that of Zacarias Moussaoui, which addresses terrorism, were all too familiar to me. In the final case, I am not sure this author had enough remove to be an unprejudiced judge himself.
I felt this could have been a much more interesting and dynamic book, given the choice of subject matter. It was entirely too dry and juvenile for my tastes, but an easy and quick read, so not a chore to get through. There have most certainly been some major miscarriages of justice in our system over the centuries, and will surely be more to come. Of course, they say hind-sight is 20/20, but I’m not sure we can look back on these cases, excepting the Salem Witch Trials, and always see them clearly, even now.
November 3, 2020
Couldn't finish it. Once the author said anyone can get to be a millionaire in America if they try hard enough, I figured the rest of the book was farce.
August 28, 2017
The Devil on Trial is billed as YA, which in this case means that it's written clearly and some legal concepts that may be considered common knowledge are briefly explained. I got a lot out of this book, mostly because I'd heard of a couple of these cases before (the Salem witch trials, of course, and the Scopes trial) but I'd never learned about the others. I'm sure I've read about Zacarias Moussaoui's trial in passing, but I don't remember sitting down and reading a straightforward account of it until now.
I like the concept Margulies and Rosaler used to tie all these trials together: during every era of American history, there's been a "devil" commonly blamed for societal ills, and this feeling that certain defendants (witches, anarchists, communists) represent that evil might make it difficult for them to receive fair trials when accused of a crime. There are no real conclusions drawn from these examples, except that as the US legal system has evolved, it's become more even-handed when it comes to trying defendants who fall into that category.
This isn't a deep dive into any of the five trials covered in the book, but it is a good overview that might pique interest in further exploration. There's an extensive bibliography in the back, along with a good glossary.
I like the concept Margulies and Rosaler used to tie all these trials together: during every era of American history, there's been a "devil" commonly blamed for societal ills, and this feeling that certain defendants (witches, anarchists, communists) represent that evil might make it difficult for them to receive fair trials when accused of a crime. There are no real conclusions drawn from these examples, except that as the US legal system has evolved, it's become more even-handed when it comes to trying defendants who fall into that category.
This isn't a deep dive into any of the five trials covered in the book, but it is a good overview that might pique interest in further exploration. There's an extensive bibliography in the back, along with a good glossary.
December 25, 2008
The over-arching idea is fine -- showing five trials over time and how each time in the American history dealt with those who were thought of as public enemies and in the meantime, the authors attempt to closely examine the judicial system and its flaws of the time. They did a very decent job at it, too. The text reads well and the pictures/photos and captions serve to further illuminate some of the points. Each case has enough tension to pull the readers through. I would have liked more commentaries and analysis than those sprinkled through the text. But I guess the readers can make up their own minds by knowing the factual details of each trial.
May 22, 2014
A great nonfiction about courtroom trials that put "the devil on trial". It focuses on the pre-history, occurrences during the trial and the aftermath making a very informative chapter for each. I was especially impressed with the excerpts from the trials and people involved, making it a wonderful addition to be using in an AP Language class. The pictures complement the stories, which are digestible, not long-winded and truly tell a story about American (un)justice. The tagline about all the types that we're worried about is great and they truly represent each one, fairly currently!
March 8, 2019
I recently finished reading the book The Devil on Trial, Witches, Anarchists, Atheists, Communists, and Terrorists in America's Courtrooms. The book was written by Phillip Margulies and Maxine Rosaler. One of the main reason that caused me to enjoy this book were the five different court cases that the book was all about. These five different court cases happened throughout a large portion of America's history and were very important in the history of the United States.
The first of the five court cases that this book is about was the Salem Witch Trial. This trial started when many people claimed that other people were witches. The second of the five court cases that this book is about is the Haymarket Bomb Trial. Part of this trial was about people trying to get better working hours, however, a major part of this trial was when a anarchist threw a bomb into a crowd which caused the death of seven police officers. The third of the five court cases that this book was the Scopes “Monkey” Trial. This trial was about whether religion or evolution should be taught in schools. The fourth of the five court cases was the trial of Alger Hiss. This trial was all about communist spies in the United States. The final of the five court cases were the Trials of Zacarias Moussaoui. These trials were about whether or not he was involved with 9/11.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. One thing that I loved about this book was learning all about these court cases. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn about these court cases.
The first of the five court cases that this book is about was the Salem Witch Trial. This trial started when many people claimed that other people were witches. The second of the five court cases that this book is about is the Haymarket Bomb Trial. Part of this trial was about people trying to get better working hours, however, a major part of this trial was when a anarchist threw a bomb into a crowd which caused the death of seven police officers. The third of the five court cases that this book was the Scopes “Monkey” Trial. This trial was about whether religion or evolution should be taught in schools. The fourth of the five court cases was the trial of Alger Hiss. This trial was all about communist spies in the United States. The final of the five court cases were the Trials of Zacarias Moussaoui. These trials were about whether or not he was involved with 9/11.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. One thing that I loved about this book was learning all about these court cases. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn about these court cases.
October 25, 2018
This short but engrossing read covers five of the most famous trials in American history. Each narrative is brief but thorough and the authors tie them together with the theme of the “devils” in society that threaten our way of life. Published in 2008, the last chapter on the trial of one of the accused terrorists involved with 9/11 ends on a question mark of what is to happen with others accused, a question that has yet to be answered 10 years later. One significant drawback is that the authors seem to have, and to promote, a naive sense of idealism regarding the American justice system. While our justice system may have been formed with the intention of providing every defendant with a fair trial (and certainly as the authors claim and illustrate throughout the book, we have come a long way since the Salem Witch Trials) our justice system is still far from fair or unbiased. Pair this work with others that address the pitfalls of the American justice system (such as the upcoming young readers edition of Just Mercy) for a more balanced view.
October 14, 2008
What a great concept: an exploration of landmark court cases that pitted the 'devil' of the day against the culture. Included are the Salem witch trials, the Haymarket trial, the Scopes trial, the Alger Hiss trial, and the Moussaoui trial. Really, though, this book is putting our own judicial system on trial. The central question is whether or not the American court system is capable of giving a fair trial to people who represent our devils: anarchists, terrorists, communists, etc. The question is not only fairly raised, but never fully answered, which I think is a benefit; there isn't one clear answer. While I might have wished for more examples, the five presented in this book are well explained and well-documented. The writing, while clear and fairly simple, is never condescending. Nor do the authors veer away from uncomfrtable facts. Overall, this book was very well done. I could see it being used in middle/high school classrooms to spur on debates.
July 18, 2022
I liked about half of this book. Different stories about people who were accused of being in league with the devil, or against civilized society in some way. The best stories were about The Salem Witch Trials and The Scopes Monkey Trial. You look back and think what is wrong with people but it still going on today. I have to shake my head. The other stories were not as interesting as these two stories. But the book had lots of information about each subject. It was a pretty good book if you like reading about history.
November 4, 2024
I really liked his approach to looking at the history of our "witch" hunts in the U.S., from the Salem witch trials, to the fear of anarchists, to the Red Scare, up to the Islamaphobia of today.
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January 11, 2017In this book, you read about a new controversial court case every chapter. The first was about two girls who accused numerous women for being witches in the town of Salem. The second was about the Haymarket bomb trial. The trial was about a labor union strike that turned into a riot between strikers and police. The third was the scopes monkey trial; in this case, the topics of evolution and creation were pinned against each other in the first publicly broadcasted debate of science and religion.The fourth case is about the trial of political man named Alger Hiss, where the nation was divided on whether or not he was a scheming communist agent or a victim of the communist scare. The final case discussed is the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui who is a conspirator for the 9/11 terrorist attacks
I did very much enjoy this book. I was very excited to find a shorter book that was interesting and in my lexile. I did get slightly bored during the Haymarket bombing chapter, yet I only say this because I read it right after we got done learning it in American History. I did also enjoy getting to learn more about some very important historical events since I very much enjoy history. I would have wished to have more trials to read about, with a bit less information on each. I did very much enjoy the chapter on the witch trials; I found it very interesting that the entire city listened to some misbehaving girls that were accusing several innocent women, all of which were sentenced and put to death. I would suggest this book to anyone who was interested in past court cases, and history in itself.
I did very much enjoy this book. I was very excited to find a shorter book that was interesting and in my lexile. I did get slightly bored during the Haymarket bombing chapter, yet I only say this because I read it right after we got done learning it in American History. I did also enjoy getting to learn more about some very important historical events since I very much enjoy history. I would have wished to have more trials to read about, with a bit less information on each. I did very much enjoy the chapter on the witch trials; I found it very interesting that the entire city listened to some misbehaving girls that were accusing several innocent women, all of which were sentenced and put to death. I would suggest this book to anyone who was interested in past court cases, and history in itself.
November 16, 2012
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
THE DEVIL ON TRIAL takes the reader on a journey through the evolving justice system of the United States. A fact-based reference; the authors use five very distinct historical trials to demonstrate the changing cultures as our country grew from the days of the Puritans to post-September 11, 2001.
The first case presented is the Salem Witch Trials. It's appalling to learn that those accused in the early days weren't offered defense counsel. The accused were better off admitting to crimes that they were innocent of and having their lives spared. Those that denied any wrongdoing were sent to the Gallows.
In sharp contrast to the Salem Witch Trials, the trials (yes, there was more than one) of Alger Hiss demonstrate that a fair trial can be achieved even in the face of distorted testimony and massive media coverage. In the age of the Cold War and the fear of Communist infiltration, Alger Hiss was accused of secretly spying on the State Department for which he was a high-level employee. Even years after his trial, controversy surrounds his guilt or innocence. Richard Nixon, prior to becoming president, was part of the investigative panel reviewing Alger Hiss.
Another trial that was better known than others of the time is the Scopes Monkey Trial. The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) convinced a young school teacher, John Scopes, to come forward and admit to teaching evolution in his classroom. They offered to pay all his fees and support him. As a young teacher with no family, he had little to lose in the deal. The ACLU had a secret agenda, though; it was going to take on the government to prove the unconstitutionality of the law. A strong Christian Fundamentalist and possible future presidential hopeful, William Jennings Bryan, agreed to prosecute the case. And when Clarence Darrow volunteered his services as defense attorney, the stage was set for a battle of wills. At the time, Tennessee was put in the spotlight, with a legal battle between the Bible and evolution. But sticking to the primary crux of the case, the presiding judge found Scopes guilty on the issue of teaching evolution and refused to hear the defense's position.
The book also covers the Chicago Haymarket Bombing as well as the more current 9/11 attack on the United States. The bombing case, as with the Salem Witch Trials, astounds the reader at the lengths that were went to in order to prove people guilty, even without proof. And everyone has an opinion on the 9/11 attacks.
For anyone even remotely interested in the legal aspect of the United States, THE DEVIL ON TRIAL will not disappoint. The book is filled with fascinating details of the justice system of this country. Definitions are spelled out, aided by a glossary at the back of the book. The authors do not choose sides on the cases, but point out the fall-out and improvements that each case brought to this country. The content is appropriate for sixth grade and beyond.
THE DEVIL ON TRIAL takes the reader on a journey through the evolving justice system of the United States. A fact-based reference; the authors use five very distinct historical trials to demonstrate the changing cultures as our country grew from the days of the Puritans to post-September 11, 2001.
The first case presented is the Salem Witch Trials. It's appalling to learn that those accused in the early days weren't offered defense counsel. The accused were better off admitting to crimes that they were innocent of and having their lives spared. Those that denied any wrongdoing were sent to the Gallows.
In sharp contrast to the Salem Witch Trials, the trials (yes, there was more than one) of Alger Hiss demonstrate that a fair trial can be achieved even in the face of distorted testimony and massive media coverage. In the age of the Cold War and the fear of Communist infiltration, Alger Hiss was accused of secretly spying on the State Department for which he was a high-level employee. Even years after his trial, controversy surrounds his guilt or innocence. Richard Nixon, prior to becoming president, was part of the investigative panel reviewing Alger Hiss.
Another trial that was better known than others of the time is the Scopes Monkey Trial. The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) convinced a young school teacher, John Scopes, to come forward and admit to teaching evolution in his classroom. They offered to pay all his fees and support him. As a young teacher with no family, he had little to lose in the deal. The ACLU had a secret agenda, though; it was going to take on the government to prove the unconstitutionality of the law. A strong Christian Fundamentalist and possible future presidential hopeful, William Jennings Bryan, agreed to prosecute the case. And when Clarence Darrow volunteered his services as defense attorney, the stage was set for a battle of wills. At the time, Tennessee was put in the spotlight, with a legal battle between the Bible and evolution. But sticking to the primary crux of the case, the presiding judge found Scopes guilty on the issue of teaching evolution and refused to hear the defense's position.
The book also covers the Chicago Haymarket Bombing as well as the more current 9/11 attack on the United States. The bombing case, as with the Salem Witch Trials, astounds the reader at the lengths that were went to in order to prove people guilty, even without proof. And everyone has an opinion on the 9/11 attacks.
For anyone even remotely interested in the legal aspect of the United States, THE DEVIL ON TRIAL will not disappoint. The book is filled with fascinating details of the justice system of this country. Definitions are spelled out, aided by a glossary at the back of the book. The authors do not choose sides on the cases, but point out the fall-out and improvements that each case brought to this country. The content is appropriate for sixth grade and beyond.
January 24, 2015
Throughout the history of America, our justice system has faced certain evils that has put its rules to the test. This book examines a few of these situations including "Witches, Anarchists, Atheists, Communists, and Terrorists." In some of these cases justice has not been preserved in the terms that our system was built on, and in other cases our system went above and beyond to fulfill the duty prescribed.
I thought that this book was quite interesting for the most part. I liked seeing the evolution of how our justice system dealt with inherent evils or what our country seemed to fear at that moment in history. Some sections were incredibly engaging, but I felt like the section on witches and communism could have been a bit better. At times the writing seemed to be a bit stagnant, but overall I thought that information was put forth in an interesting and educational manner.
I thought that this book was quite interesting for the most part. I liked seeing the evolution of how our justice system dealt with inherent evils or what our country seemed to fear at that moment in history. Some sections were incredibly engaging, but I felt like the section on witches and communism could have been a bit better. At times the writing seemed to be a bit stagnant, but overall I thought that information was put forth in an interesting and educational manner.
October 10, 2016
As you may know our country has a very strong justice system. People that come in contact with that often have trouble staying away. The Devil On Trial took very sad stories where people had come in contact with justice like the Salem Witch Trial and the Haymarket Bomb Trial. For example, there was a story about witches being prosecuted for witchcraft and a teacher getting in serious trouble for teaching about human evolution when Tennessee's Butler Act was passed. These 5 justice encounters had a variety of people like Witches, Anarchists, Communists, and Terrorist. Most of the cases in this book have come to execution tried by jury or some haven’t been prosecuted because the trial has been held off.
January 1, 2016
A great reminder of why we do things the way we do in the legal system. I want people who get so frustrated with the legal system to read this. This is why we presume people are innocent and why we get warrants and other such tedious things. We have worked so hard to have fairness and equality before the law, granted its still not perfect, but we have come a long ways from killing people because some teenagers start acting crazy. Still scary to me is all the people who the minute they get scared by something (terrorists, eg) they want to throw good sense and fairness out the window.
October 15, 2009
I didnt like this book because there were no really exciting stories I think. We only read 2 of the chapters and I didnt like either 1 of them because they were boring I thought. I would say that if you like history than this book is for you but if you dont like history books then I wouldnt read this book.
October 15, 2009
This was not one of my favorite books. I only read two chapers in the book. It was boring, but there was also a lot of violence and killing. It has witches, atheists, anarchy's, and more. If you would like to read it,go ahead! In my opinion...I did not like it.
October 15, 2009
I thoght this book was a 4 (on a scale from one to ten). the reson I did not really like it was that it was not a very intresting read, and quite boring. I read only 2 of the chapters (Salam and Scopes "Monkey" Trail) I would not reccomend this book to anyone.
July 19, 2012
Fascinating and well written.
October 24, 2014
I thought this book was ok it was very suspenseful leading up to the end of the case but the rest of it was very bland.
January 13, 2017
Has many facts and much information for multiple topics and events in history.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews