Final answer:
Gideon believed God had forsaken him because he was charged with burglary and denied a public defender, thereby facing a legal system alone—a situation rectified upon successful appeal to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of his right to legal representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gideon felt that God had forsaken him because he was facing difficult circumstances without the help he believed he was entitled to. In the context of Gideon v. Wainwright, Gideon thought the legal system had abandoned him when he was denied a public defender during his first trial for alleged burglary. He based his appeal to the Supreme Court on the violation of his constitutional right to legal representation as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. The Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Gideon's favor acknowledged the requirement for legal representation in felony cases, setting a significant precedent in U.S. law.