The Trial of Sacco and The Trial of Sacco and VanzettiVanzetti

By: Hara SunBy: Hara Sun

The Trial of Sacco and The Trial of Sacco and VanzettiVanzetti

By: Hara SunBy: Hara Sun

This presentation will explicate the This presentation will explicate the

analysis and background information analysis and background information

of the great and famous of the great and famous

Sacco and Vanzetti’s TrialSacco and Vanzetti’s Trial

Who is Sacco?Who is Sacco?

Nicola SaccoNicola Sacco was born in the was born in the Italian town of TorremaggiorItalian town of Torremaggiore. He emigrated to the U.S. e. He emigrated to the U.S. when he was seventeen. Sawhen he was seventeen. Sacco worked in a shoe factorcco worked in a shoe factory in Stoughton, MA.y in Stoughton, MA.

Who is Vanzetti?Who is Vanzetti?

Bartolomeo Vanzetti Bartolomeo Vanzetti was born in the was born in the Italian town of Villaffalletto. He emigItalian town of Villaffalletto. He emigrated to the U.S. when rated to the U.S. when

he was twenty. Vanzetti settled in Plhe was twenty. Vanzetti settled in Plymouth, MA, where he worked as a fymouth, MA, where he worked as a fish peddler. ish peddler.

Sacco and Vanzetti were Sacco and Vanzetti were shocked by the way working shocked by the way working class immigrants were class immigrants were treated in America and treated in America and became involved in left-wing became involved in left-wing politics. politics.

They first met each other They first met each other at an anarchist gathering. at an anarchist gathering. The two men became The two men became friends and often attended friends and often attended the same political the same political meetings together. meetings together.

As left-wing radicals, Sacco and As left-wing radicals, Sacco and Vanzetti opposed WWI. They decided Vanzetti opposed WWI. They decided to flee away to Mexico in order to to flee away to Mexico in order to avoid being conscripted into the avoid being conscripted into the United States Army. When WWII was United States Army. When WWII was over the two men returned to the over the two men returned to the United States.United States.

One day, Sacco and Vanzetti were arrested One day, Sacco and Vanzetti were arrested and interviewed about the murders of Fredeand interviewed about the murders of Frederick Parmenter and Alessandro Berardelli, irick Parmenter and Alessandro Berardelli, in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. n Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Several eyewitnesses Several eyewitnesses claimed that the robbers claimed that the robbers looked Italian so a large looked Italian so a large number of Italian number of Italian immigrants were immigrants were questioned.questioned.

But eventually the authorities But eventually the authorities

decided to charge Sacco and decided to charge Sacco and

Vanzetti with the murders.Vanzetti with the murders.

Although the two men did Although the two men did not have criminal records, it not have criminal records, it was argued that they had was argued that they had committed the robbery to committed the robbery to acquire funds for their acquire funds for their anarchist political campaignanarchist political campaign. .

Sacco and Vanzetti were known to be Sacco and Vanzetti were known to be dedicated supporters of Luigi Galleandedicated supporters of Luigi Galleani's Italian language journal i's Italian language journal Cronaca SCronaca Sovversivaovversiva, the most influential anarch, the most influential anarchist journal in America.ist journal in America.

The main evidence against the menThe main evidence against the men

was that they were both carrying was that they were both carrying

a gun when arrested.a gun when arrested.

However, during the exact time of However, during the exact time of

the incident, Vanzetti was selling his the incident, Vanzetti was selling his fishes, fishes,

and Sacco was having his photograph and Sacco was having his photograph

taken with his wife.taken with his wife.

Some people who saw the Some people who saw the crime taking place identified crime taking place identified Vanzetti and Sacco as the Vanzetti and Sacco as the robbers. Others disagreed robbers. Others disagreed because they said both men because they said both men had good alibis. had good alibis.

Sacco and Vanzetti’s Trial Sacco and Vanzetti’s Trial was marked in the was marked in the beginning of the twentieth beginning of the twentieth century as America's most century as America's most

notorious political trialnotorious political trial..

The arrest of Sacco and The arrest of Sacco and Vanzetti had coincided with Vanzetti had coincided with the period of the most intense the period of the most intense political repression in political repression in American history, the Red American history, the Red Scare, drawing more public Scare, drawing more public attention to the people.attention to the people.

The Red Scare took hold in the The Red Scare took hold in the United States. It was a United States. It was a nationwide fear of communists, nationwide fear of communists, socialists, anarchists, and other socialists, anarchists, and other dissidents that suddenly grabbed dissidents that suddenly grabbed the American psyche.the American psyche.

Vanzetti and Sacco were Vanzetti and Sacco were disadvantaged by not having a full disadvantaged by not having a full grasp of the English language. It grasp of the English language. It was clear from some of the was clear from some of the answers they gave in court that answers they gave in court that they had misunderstood the they had misunderstood the question. question.

During the trial, the persecution During the trial, the persecution emphasized the men's radical emphasized the men's radical political beliefs. Vanzetti and political beliefs. Vanzetti and Sacco were also accused of Sacco were also accused of unpatriotic behavior by fleeing unpatriotic behavior by fleeing to Mexico during the WWI.to Mexico during the WWI.

After a hard-fought trial of six After a hard-fought trial of six weeks, during which the themes weeks, during which the themes of patriotism and radicalism were of patriotism and radicalism were often sharply contrasted, the jury often sharply contrasted, the jury found Sacco and Vanzetti guilty found Sacco and Vanzetti guilty of robbery and first degree of robbery and first degree murder . murder .

After all recourse in the After all recourse in the Massachusetts courts had Massachusetts courts had failed, Sacco and Vanzetti failed, Sacco and Vanzetti were sentenced to be were sentenced to be executed on August 23, executed on August 23, 1927.1927.

Public agitation arose on behalf Public agitation arose on behalf of the unfair trial of Sacco and of the unfair trial of Sacco and Vanzetti by radicals, workers, Vanzetti by radicals, workers, immigrants, and Italians. Many immigrants, and Italians. Many international protests occurred international protests occurred around the world as well.around the world as well.

On August 23, 1927, the day On August 23, 1927, the day of execution, overof execution, over 250,000 250,000 people took part in a silent people took part in a silent

demonstration in Boston.demonstration in Boston.

On August 23, 1977, fifty yrs. On August 23, 1977, fifty yrs. later, the Governor of MA, later, the Governor of MA, issued a proclamation, issued a proclamation, effectively absolving the two effectively absolving the two men of the crime.men of the crime.

It was because of cases such It was because of cases such as Sacco and Vanzetti's that as Sacco and Vanzetti's that the Supreme Court ultimately the Supreme Court ultimately made many decisions that made many decisions that made the Bill of Rights made the Bill of Rights change many states’ legal change many states’ legal

systems.systems.

Here’s to you Nicola and BartHere’s to you Nicola and Bart

Rest forever here in our heartsRest forever here in our hearts

The last and final moment is yoursThe last and final moment is yours

The agony is your triumphThe agony is your triumph

THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR WATCHINGWATCHING

THIS PRESENTATION!!THIS PRESENTATION!!

The The End!End!