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The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln April 14th, 1865
President Lincoln was to Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. after the Union won the Civil War when he was murdered. John Wilkes Booth, an actor and devoted Confederate, who had performed at the theater and knew the layout, snuck up behind Lincoln and shot him in the head. The next day, Abraham Lincoln died. Often called the most notorious crime in U.S. history, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln will go down in infamy for the loss of one the greatest American presidents. -
The National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association is an interest group that leans toward the right. They advocate for less restriction on gun control. The NRA has been in effect since 1871 to present day. They attempt to influence bills or laws that would potentially limit any control that occurs that would limit the second amendment. -
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Ever since its founding, the FBI has been combating crime and violence. The FBI has been instrumental in fighting terrorism, cyber crime, and organized crime. -
Al Capone Arrested
Al Capone was an infamous Italian American gangster. He was known and convicted for multiple tax evasions. He led lots of other organized crimes, such as the Valentine’s Day massacre, and illegal alcohol trafficking. He was later convicted of violating the Volstead Act, enforcing the 18th amendment and sentenced to 11 years in prison at Alcatraz. His nickname was ‘Scarface’. -
Kidnap of Charles Lindbergh’s Baby
In March of 1932, the “crime of the 20th century” was committed when pilot Charles Lindbergh’s 20th-month-old son was kidnapped from his home and a ransom for $50,000 was issued. Days later, the ransom increased. Even after the Lindberghs paid the ransom, the child was not found. Two months after the abduction, the child’s body was found about four miles away and German-born carpenter Bruno Hauptmann was arrested on September 19th, 1934 for the kidnapping and murder of the child -
Alcatraz Established
Alcatraz was a maximum security prison on Alcatraz Island, San Francisco that housed some of America’s most dangerous felons. No one has ever successfully escaped it, but there have been more than a dozen attempts. Al Capone and murderer Robert Stroud both served time at Alcatraz. It was closed in 1963 due to high operating costs. -
Emmett Till Lynched
Emmett Till was 14 years old when he visited his cousins in Money, Mississippi. While at a store, Emmett whistled and Carolyn Bryant was convinced he was whistling at her. She told her husband that Till had assaulted her. Her husband and a few of his friends kidnapped Till, whipped him, and then killed him and dumped his body in the Tallahatchie river. He was found a few days later and his killers were out on trial. However, Mississippi gave Till’s killers a white jury. They got off scot-free. -
Jeffrey Dahmer May 21, 1960 - November 28, 1994
Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial rapist and murderer who lived in Wisconsin. He killed and raped 17 young men and boys. He was arrested numerous times, and was found guilty of 16 murders and rape accusations and was given life term in prison. He was killed by a fellow inmate, Christopher Scarver, on November 28th, 1994. -
John F. Kennedy's Assassination
John F. Kennedy, the most liked president in the history of America. Adored by almost everyone, the nation gathered around their televisions or around Dealey Plaza to witness the president pass. At 12:30 p.m. the nation watched as the most like president of the United States was shot. Thrice, with fatal wounds, he passed away 30 minutes later at age 46. Along with president Kennedy, J. D. Tippit also passed away and Governor Conally along with James Taque sustained injuries from the bullet. -
Charles Manson and ‘family’ July-August, 1969
The Manson Family cult killings began when Bobby Beausoleil, one of Manson’s followers, aided by Mary Brunner and Susan Atkins, both Manson Family Members, killed Gary Hinman, a music teacher. Later, on August 8th, 1969, Manson called on four of his followers to kill everyone in the former house of Terry Melcher. The Manson Family members, including Tex Watson and Linda Kasabian murdered five people, one victim being Sharon Tate, a pregnant woman. -
Furman v Georgia
Furman, a black man, was robbing a home when he was caught. He ran, tripped, and accidentally set off his gun which killed a man. He was charged with murder and his jury chose the death penalty for his crime. His trial raised the question of whether imposing the death penalty demonstrated cruel and unusual punishment. When the case was appealed to the Supreme Court, the court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in certain cases and forced states to rewrite their death penalty requirements. -
Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE)
Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants is a interest group that advocates for ex-felons, felons, and their families. They advocate for the accused to reduce their sentence as much as possible. They help their members fully comprehend the criminal justice system. Additionally they help the people who got out of jail to try and turn their lives around. CURE does what is in the acronym, they try to cure and help others life whether it is before, during or after incarceration. -
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
This agency protects communities from violent criminals, and illegal acts like arson, terrorism, and firearm/explosive trafficking. It is located within the Department of Justice, and its headquarters are in Washington, DC. Nowadays, federal firearms and explosives laws addressing violent crime are the agency’s primary mission. -
Drug Enforcement Agency
This agency is tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the US. It was founded by Richard Nixon. It was created in response to the growing drug availability in the US. Its job is to enforce the Controlled Substances Act, effective May 1, 1971. -
National Association of Police Organizations
The National Association of Police Organizations was formed in 1978. It was formed to advance interest of police forces across the United states through legislative advocacy. They were formed to help the lives and jobs of law enforcement officers to be as smooth and easy as possible. Additionally, NAPO is the largest and strongest groups advocating for law enforcement officers. They represent over 1,000 different units and 241,000 pledged law enforcement officers all across the nation. -
Domestic Violence and Abuse Act
Passed in 1979 in the state of Minnesota, the act provided help to domestic abuse victims. By creating shelter facilities to provide refuge for battered women and children, as well as creating orders for protecting against abusers, the statute has led Minnesota to lead the world in matters of preventing and combating domestic abuse. -
Alliance for Justice
Alliance for Justice is a group that especially works to advocate judicially for everyone. They work hard to preserve the rights of each and every American’s rights, justices and stick to the constitutional core values. Their main job is to ensure that every person, no matter their skin color or place of origin are able to receive the same and equal due process that they deserve as American citizens. -
MS-13
One of the most infamous gangs worldwide, the Salvadoran Mara Salvatrucha gang was founded in the 1980s in Los Angeles, California. Ever since, the gang has spread and boasts about 6,000 members in 42 states, according to the FBI. The gang is responsible for decades of violence and drug activity, as well as 15 or more murders in Suffolk, NY, in the past two years. -
Waco Siege February 28th- April 19th 1993
4 federal officer were killed when ATF agents searching for illegal arms got in an altercation with the Branch Davidian cult led by David Koresh. In the 51 days that followed, federal agents attempted to lead negotiations with Koresh. However, on April 19th, 1993, at the behest of Attorney General Janet Reno, the FBI fired tear gas onto the compound which caused it to set on fire. 76 Davidians, among them 25 children died, however many of them from seemingly self-inflicted gunshot wounds. -
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
The law was the largest crime bill in U.S. history and expanded the federal government’s role in preventing violent crime. The bill granted $9.7 billion in funding for prisons and $6.1 billion in funding for violent crime prevention programs. The crime bill provided $2.6 billion in additional funding for the Justice Department. Some provisions of the bill included expansion of the federal death penalty to include more serious crimes and competitive grants to improve domestic violence shelters. -
The Murder of Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur was a very successful hip hop artist who was assassinated in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 25 years old and was fatally injured at 11:55pm, passing away soon after. His murder was never fully investigated or concluded making it unsolved. A netflix TV series called Biggie and Tupac goes inside the investigation and attempts to uncover the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. -
Columbine School Shooting
Two teens, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, went into Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, killed 13 people and wounded more than 20 others. At the time, it was the deadliest high school shooting in US history. It prompted a national debate on gun control and school safety. The shooters were speculated to have chosen, athletes, minorities, and Christians as the victims. -
9/11 Attacks
On September 1st, 2001, 2,996 people were killed in the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history. 19 Al-Qaeda militants were able to highjack four planes, and they crashed two into the World Trade Center towers and one into the Pentagon. However, passengers were able to take control of the last plane and crash it into a field. The attacks served as the catalyst for the war on terror, which characterized the Bush administration. -
Sandy Hook School Shooting
Adam Lanza, 20, went into Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut and killed 20 first graders and 6 employees before committing suicide. At the time it was the second deadliest mass shooting in the US after Virginia Tech. In the aftermath, president Barack Obama called for new gun safety measures. Sandy Hook Elementary was eventually torn down in the fall of 2013, and a new school was built in its place. -
Abrahmski v United States
Abramski, a former Virginia police officer, offered to purchase a gun for his uncle as he would get a discount. He then lied to obtain the gun. When appealed to the Supreme Court, the US won because although Abramski uncle could own guns, having his nephew buy the gun broke gun purchase laws, and therefore one may not buy a gun for another. The new precedent set stated that one cannot buy a gun for another person and that gun salesmen must keep track of any gun purchaser’s records. -
Shooting of Michael Brown
Michael Brown was an 18 year old black man who was caught on tape robbing a store in Fergusson, MO. The police were notified and officers were sent to apprehend Brown and his accomplice. Officer Wilson was first to find the two and asked them to step off the street. They did not, and a fight followed where Brown tried to grab Wilson’s gun. Wilson then chased Brown when he fled and shot him six times. Brown was unarmed. Wilson’s actions were considered self-defense and he was innocent when tired. -
Shooting of Philando Castile
Philando Castile was pulled over for a traffic violation in MN. His girlfriend and her 4 year old son were in the car as well. Castile told Officer Yanez he had a firearm in the car and Yanez told him not to touch it. Castile was reaching for his driver's license, trying to explain it was his license he was reaching for and not his gun, when Yanez shot him seven times. Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond, had been streaming the entire thing. However, Yanez was found innocent in court. -
Harvey Weinstein and Sexual Assault Allegations
On October 5th, 2017, a New York Times story outlining decades of sexual assault and abuse by movie producer and mogul Harvey Weinstein. Many actresses, including Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan accused Weinstein of rape and sex abuse. In the following months, many accusations against Harvey Weinstein of alleged abuse and misconduct by dozens of women. Finally, Weinstein turned himself in to New York police on May 25th, 2018 and was charged with rape and several counts of sex abuse. -
Parkland School Shooting
In one of the deadliest school shootings in US history, a student named Nikolas Cruz shot and killed 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. After the shooting, surviving students formed an advocacy group Never Again MSD and #NeverAgain, both advocating for gun control legislation. This sparked a nationwide school walkout and the March For Our Lives. -
Santa Fe Shooting
Dimitrios Pagourtzis went into an art room during the school day and fatally shot 10 people Santa Fe High School. Witnesses say that the shooter came into the room and said to people “I’m going to kill you” and at another time “surprise” before shooting a student in the chest. He used multiple weapons.
