Mock Trial of Hernando Cortes
Mock Trial of Hernando Cortes
Defense: Hernando Cortes
Prosecution: Aztec
Prosecuting Attorneys:
Grace, Julia, Olivia
People who will help our case:
Meztli: Aztec Warrior
People who will not help our case:
Everyone else LOL ☺️
Opening Statement:
Hernando Cortes invaded the Aztec civilization in 1519 with armed men. Cortes killed many Aztecs, held their ruler hostage, stole their treasure, and left behind disease that wiped out half of their civilization. He did all of this just because he wanted to find the city of gold and he wanted their land. He felt that it was right to do this just because he thought that his religion and ideas were better than the Aztecs. He felt that it was okay to destroy a civilization that had inflicted no harm on him or his people. Cortes is guilty of kidnapping, stealing, blackmail, murder, and suspected murder.
Points:
Held Montezuma hostage
Suspected in the death of Montezuma
Blackmailed the Aztecs
Tricked the Aztecs
Stole their treasures (gold)
Tried to escape with the Aztecs treasure and gold after killing Montezuma
Attacked an innocent civilization that did nothing to him
Wiped out half their civilization
Counters
Sacrifice was part of Aztec religion
Aztecs gained control over other city states fairly
Questions:
Meztli--
Did Cortes free Montezuma after he received the ransom like he said he would?
Did Montezuma ever act harshly or in any way attack Cortes before he was kidnapped?
Were the Aztecs ever unwelcoming or hostile to Cortes before the death of Montezuma?
Did the coming of Cortes and his Spanish men disrupt the Aztecs lifestyle? How?
Did Cortes take any of your valuable riches that were special to you?
You were a successful warrior before Cortes came. How did Cortes change your life?
How was life before Cortes came?
How was it after he left?
Defense Witnesses--
What makes your religion better than the Aztecs?
Why do you need more treasure?
If someone kidnapped your leader, would you become hostile to the murderer?
Just because you are more civilized than the Aztecs does that make it right for you to steal, blackmail, and murder their leader?
What reason(s) did Cortes have for kidnapping Montezuma?
What were Cortes motives for taking over the Aztecs? Wasn't he doing well enough already?
Why did you fund Cortes? For wealth? Did you care or know how he got it? -juan camillo ortiz
What is reasonable to kill and kidnap montezuma?
Other--
What happened to your tribe after Cortes took over the Aztecs?
Closing Statement:
Therefore, Hernando Cortes was a very bad man who did many terrible things because of greed. Some of these things were, when he invaded the Aztec civilization in 1519 with armed men. Cortes killed many Aztecs, held their ruler hostage, stole their treasure, and left behind disease that wiped out half of their civilization. He did all of this just because he wanted to find the city of gold and he wanted their land. He felt that it was right to do this just because he thought that his religion and ideas were better than the Aztecs. He felt that it was okay to destroy a civilization that had inflicted no harm on him or his people. Cortes is guilty of kidnapping, stealing, blackmail, murder, and suspected murder.
Interview Notes:
Meztli:
He was successful warrior and was forced to be a slave after Cortes invaded his city. Cortes used Montezuma as a “puppet” and never acted harshly. His great lifted drastically changed because
Federico:
How would you feel is someone killed your ruler? I would feel hostile. He came with his leader to get gold. Why did he need more gold? Why does he need to expand his empire? Why is it better to live in his empire than the Aztec empire? What makes
Ortega:
Sacrificing people is not right, killing innocent people. Why is your religion better? We don't sacrifice
Kalipi:
Were you safe under the Aztecs? No I was going to be sacrificed and killed, unhappy. Better off when Cortes came? No saved from sacrifice, but had to become a slave of Cortes.
