Lesson plan; Understanding the Significance of Donald Trump’s Fraud Conviction

Trump found guilty and is first ex-president convicted of a crime

Overview

Donald Trump has been convicted of fraud by a New York jury that declared he was guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a payment made to a porn star during his tumultuous 2016 campaign for the White House.

The verdict made him the first former president in American history to be convicted in a criminal court. It came in the midst of a presidential campaign, sometimes conducted in a gloomy courthouse corridor, in which Trump, 77, could be returned to the White House months after a judge has decided whether or not to send him to jail. Source: The Times.

Objectives:

1. Students will understand the context and significance of Donald Trump’s fraud conviction.
2. Students will analyze the potential political and legal implications of this conviction.
3. Students will discuss the broader themes of accountability and the rule of law in a democratic society.
4. How can humor play a part in the political landscape?

Warm-Up 

1. Begin with a brief discussion on the importance of the rule of law and accountability in a democracy.
2. Ask students to reflect on and discuss the question: “What does it mean for a political leader to be held accountable?“

Background:

1. Provide a brief overview of the article, highlighting the key points:
   • Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
   • The historical significance of a former president being convicted in a criminal court.
   • The potential political ramifications and public reactions.
2. Show the video clip of the news coverage of the verdict above.

Main Activity:

1. Group Work:
   • Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different aspect of the article and the comments in the 2 twitter messages to analyze:
     • Group 1: The legal aspects and details of the fraud conviction.
     • Group 2: The political implications for Trump’s future presidential campaign.
     • Group 3: The public and media reaction to the conviction.
     • Group 4: The broader themes of accountability and the rule of law.
2. Each group will:

   • Read the assigned section of the article carefully.
   • Discuss and note down their analysis of the assigned aspect.
   • Prepare a brief presentation to share their findings with the class.
   • Create a mind map or visual representation of the group’s analysis and findings.

Group Presentations and Discussion:

1. Each group presents their analysis and mind map/visual to the class.
2. Facilitate a class discussion on the following questions:

   • What are the immediate and long-term implications of Trump’s conviction?
   • How does this event reflect on the American judicial system and democratic principles?
   • How might this conviction influence public trust in political leaders and the legal system?

1. Have students write a brief reflection on what they learned about the importance of accountability in leadership and the legal system’s role in upholding democratic values.
2. Facilitate a discussion around the use of humor and satire in political discourse:

How about humor, can it make a person change their minds?

Jimmy Kimmel took aim at Donald Trump and the end of his hush-money trial on last night’s edition of his late-night show.

• What role can comedy play in addressing serious political/legal issues? Can it effectively critique power or is it limited?
• When is humor helpful versus harmful in discussing complex issues? How can it provide insight or obscure important nuances?
• Are there ethical boundaries comedians should observe when joking about court cases, elected officials, etc.?

3. Allow an open discussion exploring different perspectives on this topic. Students should back up their views with specific examples/reasoning.
4. As a final reflection, have students write a few sentences on whether they believe satire/comedy is an effective way to change minds on political issues or if it has a more limited impact.

Essay questions:

1. 1. Analyze the potential impact of Trump’s conviction on future presidential campaigns and elections.
   2. Discuss the role of media in shaping public perception of legal and political events.
   3. Reflect on the importance of the rule of law in maintaining a fair and just society, using Trump’s conviction as a case study.

More sources to use:

1. “Trump verdict: Former president found guilty in hush-money case” – This BBC article provides a detailed account of the trial and its implications⁴.
2. “Now that Trump’s a convicted felon, here’s what happens next” – This POLITICO article discusses the next steps following the conviction, including potential appeals⁵.
3. “Courts can try a former president who faced impeachment” – This CNN article discusses the legal precedent for trying a former president.
4. NPR: https://www.npr.org/2024/05/30/trump-trial-verdict
   • NPR provides comprehensive coverage of the trial, the verdict, and its implications.
5. NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/donald-trump-found-guilty-historic-new-york-hush-money-trial-rcna89554
   • NBC News discusses the historic significance of Trump’s conviction and its potential impact on his future political career.
6. NAACP: https://naacp.org/articles/naacp-reacts-guilty-verdict-trump-criminal-fraud-case-calls-removal-candidacy-president
   • The NAACP shares their response to the verdict and calls for Trump’s removal from the presidential candidacy.