Aim: What factors led to the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti? Victims of Xenophobia or Guilty?

Do Now Describe a situation in which you were accused of something that you didn’t do. Why were you accused? How did you feel?

Vanzetti was a fish peddler Background Sacco was a shoemaker Vanzetti was a fish peddler

Both Italian immigrants Anarchists: All forms of gov’t should be abolished

Both accused of murdering a paymaster & shoe store security guard The Case Both accused of murdering a paymaster & shoe store security guard

Neither had ever been accused of a prior crime

Paymaster carrying $15,000 in payroll receipts when shot Money was never traced to either man

Both convicted of murder & sentenced to death 1927 Both convicted of murder & sentenced to death

Vanzetti - I wish to say to you that I am innocent Vanzetti - I wish to say to you that I am innocent. I have never done a crime, some sins, but never any crime. I thank you for everything you have done for me. I am innocent of all crime, not only this one, but of all, of all. I am an innocent man.

…Only because they were foreigners Case Interpretation …Only because they were foreigners Xenophobia: Fear of strangers (foreigners)

Many wanted all foreigners out of US Welcome Sacco & Vanzetti represented everything Americans feared about foreigners

Some protests & riots ensued

For what it’s worth... 50 years to the day of executions, MA Gov. Michael Dukakis cleared the names of Sacco & Vanzetti