Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
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Date of Graduation
Spring 2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Department
Department of History
Advisor(s)
Raymond M. Hyser
Andrew Witmer
Neel Amin
Abstract
In 1892, a wealthy Massachusetts couple, Andrew and Abby Borden, were hacked to death during broad daylight in the comfort of their own home. A few weeks later Lizzie Borden, Andrew’s daughter from his first marriage, was arrested for double homicide. Newspapers across the country took hold of the story from the very first day; a wealthy, white, woman being accused of murder was no ordinary affair. For the next year, the nation was gripped to the news as the case revealed an everlasting list of strange characters and showed the dark underbelly of the small industrial city of Fall River, Massachusetts. And to climax the dramatic events, Lizzie was found not guilty. Lizzie Borden’s trial became a battle for what kind of America would dominate in an age of deep-seated tensions.
Recommended Citation
Ford, Christian, "The history of Lizzie Borden: Burying the axe" (2019). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 670.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/670
