Unit 1 Lesson 8: African Americans and Segregation
Leo Frank Case
Who was involved? Think about the people or groups who were involved and affected by this event.
What happened? Summarize the event!
Where did the event take place?
What region(s) of Georgia did the event take place in?
When did the event take place?
Why is this event important to Georgia's history?
The people involved in the Leo Frank case were Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager, Mary Phagan, a 13-year-old factory worker, and Jim Conley, a janitor at the factory. The event also involved the authorities, lawyers, and the community.
The event in question is the murder of Mary Phagan, which occurred on April 26, 1913. Mary Phagan was found dead in the basement of the National Pencil Company in Atlanta, where Leo Frank was her employer. Leo Frank was charged with the murder based on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of Jim Conley, who initially acted as a witness and later confessed to helping Frank dispose of the body.
The event took place in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Leo Frank case took place in the region of Georgia known as Metro Atlanta.
The event took place in 1913, with the murder occurring on April 26, and the subsequent trial and sentencing taking place throughout the year.
This event is important to Georgia's history as it highlighted the deep-seated racial and religious prejudice prevalent during that time. The case became highly controversial and polarizing due to the involvement of a Jewish defendant in a predominantly Christian society, leading to accusations of anti-Semitism and fueling societal divisions. The trial and subsequent events also marked a turning point in race relations in Georgia, with tensions arising between the African American community and the white majority, as racial biases played a significant role in the trial and subsequent events. Ultimately, Leo Frank's case brought attention to issues of injustice and discrimination in the legal system and spurred conversations about the need for civil rights reforms.