Steele Canyon High School American Studies Mock Trial Handbook OPENING STATEMENT " i 1: gr. e the jury an introduction to each sides story and explain what 1 at} hot: the evidence and Witnesses will prove guilt or innocence. It mortal and can appeal to the sympathies of the jury. . . Opening Statement . w Men of the jury, this is an clair. [Attorney holds up the clair]- T his pastry is . m 3.7 consume and physically very weak. There is always a price for consuming - m 1.; gun: hen we set it on the table and apply any kind of pressure to it, it caves l Jayne; crushes clair]. It still retains its taste though. on ma tit. sample pastry exemplies the leadership of the United States prior to the fateful M m: SmashAmerican War. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt said it Marni the principles, strength and vision of President McKinley to the backbone of a fwszdent McKinley seemed like a good choice to many Americans, but he caved under 3 .1. enter the war. As a result he became an extremely popular president who was viewed ~ amt :vrwi'fid to American citizens. In other words, he tasted good..[pause] probably even W w :00}: office. W mm 3.23:: a picture for you. By 1898, the United States had just beCome' one of the most ML :m:m..; powers on the planet. The other major industrialized nations of England, France and W wax. the systematic acquisition of smaller, less powerful islands, principalities and .13.: had been opened, the islands of the Pacic were gaining new names like the Dutch East t 3- emf. changesfacial expression and demeanor to reflect seriousness and anger, faces jury m'tt am --: refs 1 Folks, the plain truth of the matter is that the United States wanted to be one of the m i , :the cool table ,get its share of the pie if I may mix my metaphors. Spain was a w my: 3 the time. Her holdings included Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, which are prime man must ' mm] bases and refueling stations in order to get to all points on the globe. Why go to all WWW an :ez giobe... you ask? TRADE. Let me say that again. TRADE. This is not about freeing people w 1w 5.32:5}: oppression " as the Defense will try to convince you! This is about money and power and l m . t . - ..c :he} try to tell you is a cover for the truth of the matter. You must read between the lines . .1;. 5.: .md gentlemen. Weigh the evidence. The evidence is overwhelming. +.. rail n itness testimony and evidence will show that this war was unjust and an abuse of power - -1 ;: _ attorney shows Powerpoint slide or poster with the followzng arguments listed] '4 as motivated by greed and desire for power nos executed in a way that left Spain no choice but to defend her territories resulted in the acquisition of territories ~ had clear economic advantages for Americans and American industry _ breed the American system on territories that did not want it s eakened the territories of Cuba Puerto Rico, and the- Philippines economically )2. rill hear from newspaper editors who will admit to using events to fan the ames of war and sure the President to enter an unjust war. You will hear from Filipinos Cubans and Puerto Ricans as ere promised independence from the United States but had to ght the US. to get it... [attorney ages] years later. You will hear from the Spanish and the President himself admit that Spain agreed to 57' demand the US. made prior to a declaration of war, but the US. declared war anyway. You will 7 from industrialists who used political inuence to encourage war and then made millions of dollars ' '71 American control of Cuba Puerto Rico and the Philippines. You will hear about the impact of U. S. , .trol on these countries and you will be APPALLED. We all want to believe the best about our country and we may be aaid to think that the United 5 :ates could be anything less than perfect. I argue that questioning our country pays it an implied tribute. he beauty of our Justice system and our rights is that we CAN question our government. I say that acknowledging wrongs and f xmg them makes it a stronger and a more perfect country. We still have the chance to do right by the people who were once hurt by U. S. actions. An American president once said "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be f xed by what ZS right with America" . Finding the U. S. guilty in this case will do right by the people of Spam Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Philippines. This is what world leadership means.