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Charles Manson Research Paper

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The Tate and LaBianca murders are two of the most infamous and gruesome murder cases in American history. Taking place in the summer 1969, the murders were perpetrated by the nefarious Manson Family, led by criminal Charles Manson. Manson recruited family members, who much like him, were social outcasts; most were teens or young adults who fell under his spell and shared a liking for hallucinogenic drugs. Manson acted like a father figure to his followers and preached his idea of “Helter Skelter.” “Helter Skelter” was his belief that there was going to be a societal uprising between African-Americans and white people due to racial tension (Hedegaard). Eventually, after Manson’s arrest, he was tried and prosecuted by Vincent Bugliosi, a former …show more content…

In an interview conducted by Bugliosi with one of the Manson Family members named Linda Kasabian, she told him, “...we always wanted to do anything and everything for him” (Kasabian). Kasabian went on to describe how many of the Manson Family members felt about Charles Manson. According to Kasabian, members of the Manson Family never questioned anything that Manson told them to do because of how influential he was in their lives. Members of his cult agreed to follow through with the murders, because he influenced and corrupted their minds with his unrealistic “Helter Skelter” theory, and they acted on this. Manson also compared himself to Christian religious figure, Jesus Christ, in an effort to persuade his followers to do his bidding. In an interview, Manson told the interviewer, “I may have implied on several different occasions to several different people that I may have been Jesus Christ, but I haven’t decided yet what I am or who I am” (Manson). Many of Manson’s followers were so loyal to him because they actually believed that he was the living embodiment of Jesus Christ. They followed and obeyed him just like the disciples followed Jesus Christ. This was also part of his methodology to build up numbers of people in the Manson Family. He knew that having larger numbers would ultimately make him more powerful and allow him to act on his idea of “Helter Skelter” leading to media attention and the start of a race war. Claiming to be Jesus Christ proved successful not only increasing the size of his family, but also persuading his closest followers to carry out the Tate and LaBianca murders. During this time, the Hippie Movement was strong and, ironically like Manson, preached love and peace like the teachings of Jesus Christ. The movement also stood for change and Manson used this, as well as its experimental drug culture, to control his

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