State v. Mann

My group, team trippy, was elected to be on the side of John Mann in the case State v. Mann.  During preparation for this mock trial, my fellow group members and myself researched the case and got a good understanding of the entire case.  The case was about a slave owner, John Mann, who shot and killed a disobedient slave, Lydia, and was charged and found guilty of battery.  This case was brought to the Supreme Court of North Carolina.  The case was gone over again and they ruled in favor of John Mann and declared that slaveowners have absolute power of there slave.

My team defended John Mann in the Mock Trial

and obviously won because the outcome 

was predetermined.  We reiterated that since

Lydia was a slave owned by John Mann, 

he had absolute power because she was his 

slave and his property.  He has the right to

do whatever he would like to any slave

that he owns.  The defense of the people

on the side of the state made a compelling

argument that since Lydia is a person that

this is unjust and she is more than just a 

piece of property.  This argument was shot

down by the court and we won the case.

In being a part of this mock trial it just showed how truly disgusting slavery was.  It was one of the most horrible things that has ever been apart of this Country's history.  But we have to remember it is history and you can not just undo something that was so serious.  I guess you could say that their is good and bad in everything.  At least we can be thankful that we live in a society that does not tolerate discrimination and stands up for what is right and just.(sometimes)