GlossariesGCSE GlossariesGCSE History GlossaryTrial

Trial - GCSE History Definition

Reviewed by: Zoe Wade

Last updated

In history, a trial is a formal meeting in a court where a judge and sometimes a jury make decisions about a person's guilt or innocence. During a trial, both sides—the prosecution and the defence—present evidence and arguments to support their case. Trials are an important part of the criminal justice system because they help ensure that the law is applied fairly and help to provide justice. Studying trials helps us understand how legal systems work and how societies dealt with crime and punishment.

Examiner-written GCSE History revision resources that improve your grades 2x

  • Written by expert teachers and examiners
  • Aligned to exam specifications
  • Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t
GCSE History revision resources

Share this article

Zoe Wade

Reviewer: Zoe Wade

Expertise: History Content Creator

Zoe has worked in education for 10 years as a teaching assistant and a teacher. This has given her an in-depth perspective on how to support all learners to achieve to the best of their ability. She has been the Lead of Key Stage 4 History, showing her expertise in the Edexcel GCSE syllabus and how best to revise. Ever since she was a child, Zoe has been passionate about history. She believes now, more than ever, the study of history is vital to explaining the ever-changing world around us. Zoe’s focus is to create accessible content that breaks down key historical concepts and themes to achieve GCSE success.

The examiner written revision resources that improve your grades 2x.

Join now