Sleepy Lagoon Zoot Suit Trial
Grade Level:
Grades 6-12
Language:
English and Spanish
Format:
Presentation
Source:
INTRODUCTION
Power of Democracy
Focused on the 14th Amendment, this lesson takes students back to the 1940s, when the style of dress worn by 21 young men led to murder charges in People v. Zamora. Led by a visiting judge, students gain a better understanding of the 14th Amendment's right to due process, along with the state court system, the three branches of government, and the role of a judge.
OBJECTIVES
Students will:
- Describe the historical and social context of 1940s Los Angeles, including the discrimination faced by Mexican American youth and the cultural significance of the zoot suit.
- Trace the facts, trial, and conviction of the Sleepy Lagoon defendants in People v. Zammora (1942–1943), and identify the ways the trial process failed to protect the defendants' rights.
- Explain how public opinion and sensational media coverage can influence a legal proceeding, using the Sleepy Lagoon case and the Zoot Suit Riots as examples.
- Connect the case's reversal on appeal to the due process protections of the 14th Amendment and to the checks and balances among California's three branches of government.
RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
Focused on the 14th Amendment, this lesson takes students back to the 1940s, when the style of dress worn by 21 young men led to murder charges in People v. Zamora. Led by a visiting judge, students gain a better understanding of the 14th Amendment's right to due process, along with the state court system, the three branches of government, and the role of a judge.