This is a study of the Chicago Conspiracy trial of 1969-1970, where eight radical leaders were tried in connection to the riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the meanings of the trial to American society in 1970 and from today's historical vantage point. Differing from first-hand accounts of the trial in the early 1970s, this study examines the different public perspectives of the trial through the use of such primary sources as underground newspapers, the defendants' writings, and appeals documents. Particular attention is devoted to the interpersonal relationships between the leading participants of the trial (the judge, attorneys, defendants, jurors, journalists, and spectators).The thesis is organized to highlight the major issues and controversies of the trial, while still addressing the personalities involved in the case. The context of the trial in an era of active American radicalism is examined both before and after the case was tried. An entire chapter is devoted to examining the diverse participants in the trial and the different roles they played in the event. Since the trial was so controversial because of legal issues and the conduct of the courtroom participants, a chapter has been devoted to both of these areas. Paticular attention is paid to events precipitating the prosecution of the eight radicals, including the Chicago Convention disorders and the federal grand jury that handed down the indictments. This organization lays a foundation for exploring the contemporary and historical significances of the trial in the conclusion of the study.

This study considers the question of whether immigrant women in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries had similarities in their experiences as immigrants to the United States. Two time periods were examined : the years between 1815 and the Civil War and the years since 1965 . As often as was possible, first- person accounts of immigrant women were used. For the nineteenth century women, these consisted of published letters and diaries and an occasional autobiography. For the contemporary women, published accounts and interviews were used. Twenty- six women from sixteen different countries were interviewed by the author. The interviewees were from a broad spectrum of educational, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds. The first chapter discusses reasons for emigration, the difficulties of leaving one's home, and the problems of the journey. The second chapter considers some of the problems of adjusting to a new environment, such as adapting to new kinds of food and housing, feelings of isolation, separation from family and friends, language problems, and prejudice. The third chapter deals with family issues. It examines how living in a culture with new freedoms and opportunities affected relationships with husbands and children. Many immigrant women, either by choice or necessity, worked outside the home for the first time after immigrating, which changed a woman's role within the family. This chapter also looks at the difficulty of watching one's children grow up in a culture with different expectations and standards of behavior. The conclusion drawn from this study is that many women who have immigrated to the United States, even those from very different times and situations, have had a surprising number of experiences and emotions in common as part of their immigrant experience