Some, such as the conspiracy to assassinate President Lincoln, have generated volumes of claimers and disclaimers. The threat of the international communist conspiracy following World War II led to the witch hunts of the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, famous trials, the McCarthy era, the rise of a young Dick Nixon, and the numerous campaigns of the John Birch Society. 610S, The Rhetoric of Conspiracy, will study the historical, legal, psychological, logical, and rhetorical bases of conspiracy appeals in American history. Four 15-20 minutes class reports, including outlines for each member of the class, on assigned readings.
Primary documents are essential.