When the author first heard that the earthquake that hit Haiti destroyed entire Haitian cities and killed more than a quarter million people, he was shocked. For him, it was apparent that this was more than a natural disaster. As he learned about the role the U.S. government had played in Haitian affairs--the multiple occupations, the support for dictatorships, the CIA-backed coups--it seemed to him that the "aid" effort had to be viewed in the light of this history. The role played by the U.S. government raises critical questions for students and teachers. How does Haiti's history explain why it experienced such devastation as a result of the earthquake? Who or what is responsible? And why has Haiti not been able to quickly rebuild and recover? The author's civics students at Lincoln High School use a mock trial to explore the economic, social, and political background to the tragedy. (Contains 1 online resource.)