1. Post WWI America

2. America is tired Finished the First World War Economy is struggling
Cost of living is up
Production is down

3. Nativism and Isolationism
Americans dislike outsiders
Nativism: Prejudice against foreign born
Wants to stay out of international affairs
Isolationism: Pulling away from the world

5. Fear of Communism Fear an end to private property The Red Scare
1919: Communists take over Russia
Communist Party founded in the U.S.
More than 70,000 join
Bombs sent to gov’t and business leaders

6. U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer

7. Palmer Raids Palmer hunts down communists & anarchists
Violate civil rights of citizens
Jailed without lawyers
Thousands deported without trials
Raids fail to turn up any real evidence

8. Sacco and Vanzetti

9. Sacco and Vanzetti Shoemaker and Fisherman from Italy
Immigrants and anarchists
Fled Europe during WWI
Arrested and charged with murder
Witnesses said the criminals “looked Italian”
Both men had alibis

10. Sacco and Vanzetti Both are convicted
Sentenced to death
Outrage and protest around the world
Governor refuses to grant clemency
Both men electrocuted

14. Limiting Immigration “Keep America for Americans”
Fewer unskilled job, less need for immigrants
Believe Europeans were Communists/Anarchists

15. The Klan Reemerges 1924: 4.5 million members White male Protestants
Opposed unions and Catholics too

16. Quota System 1921: Emergency Quota Act Puts caps on immigration
Changed in 1924
Discriminated against Catholics and Jews
Limit of 125,000 people per year to U.S.

18. Labor Unrest 1919: More than 3,000 strikes in U.S.
Workers labeled as Communists
Labor movement is hurt in 1920’s
Immigrant members are not liked
Language barriers hurt unionizing
Most unions wouldn’t allow African Americans

19. Justice Denied in Massachusetts

20. How does the poem’s speaker feel after Sacco and Vanzetti are executed
What images best convey the mood of the poem?