U.S. History The Roaring Twenties Name: ___________________________ Radicalism in the 1920s: The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial period: _________ Background Description: Immigration, labor violence and strikes, hostility toward radicals (many foreign born), the Bolshevik Revolution, and racial violence combined to create an atmosphere of fear and intolerance that contributed to one of the most controversial trials in American History. President Woodrow Wilson’s quest for “100% Americanism” raised troubling issues for the country. Ferdinando Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were two Italian-­‐born American laborers and anarchists who were tried, convicted and executed via electrocution on August 23, 1927 in Massachusetts for the 1920 armed robbery and murder of a pay-­‐clerk and a security guard in Braintree, Massachusetts. The case continues to incite controversy today on two fronts: • Culpability: the question of the innocence or guilt of Sacco and Vanzetti; • Conformance: the question of whether the trials were fair to Sacco and Vanzetti The murder trial of Sacco and Vanzetti convulsed the country during the 1920s, pitting liberals and civil libertarians against the state of Massachusetts and the federal government. Primary Document 1: Newspaper letter:
What's all this fuss they're making about them guys?
What was comin' to 'em;
Sayin', be Jesus,
Darned if some people ain't kickin' because they got
It's cause they're reds.
That's bad enough,
But that ain't all ---
Not by a damn sight. Why, man alive, They're only a couple o' God damn dagoes!... Now me: I'm an American, I am ...
Send 'em up, say I,
Show 'em that our courts is American.
We don't care whether they done it or not.
We don't get our law from Italy.
To hell with 'em!
They're dagoes.
-­‐-­‐-­‐Jim Seymour, 1921 Questions: 1) How does the author feel about the execution of Sacco and Vanzetti?
2) What ethnic and political stereotypes are displayed in this letter?
3) How does this letter reflect the atmosphere of “100% Americanism” President Wilson promoted?
Radicalism in the 1920s -­‐ The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial -­‐ S2014.docx Primary Document 2: After their execution in 1927, the controversy refused to die, and folk singer Woody Guthrie later composed an album dedicated to two folk heroes killed by what he often saw as a fascist state. The song “Two Good Men Gone” depicts the interrelated themes of nativism, radicalism, civil rights, and fear of unions, familiar topics in many of his songs. “Two Good Men” Copyright 1945, music and lyrics by Woody Guthrie. Two good men a long time gone, Two good men a long time gone (Two good men a long time gone, oh, gone), Sacco, Vanzetti a long time gone, Left me here to sing this song. Say, there, did you hear the news? Sacco worked at trimming shoes; Vanzetti was a peddling man, Pushed his fish cart with his hands. Sacco was born across the sea Somewhere over in Italy; Vanzetti was born of parents fine, Drank the best Italian wine. Sacco sailed the sea one day, Landed up in Boston Bay; Vanzetti sailed the ocean blue, Landed up in Boston, too. Sacco's wife three children had, Sacco was a family man; Vanzetti was a dreaming man, His book was always in his hand. Sacco earned his bread and butter Being the factory's best shoe cutter; Vanzetti spoke both day and night, Told the workers how to fight. I'll tell you if you ask me 'Bout this payroll robbery; Two clerks was killed by the shoe factory On the street in South Braintree. Judge Thayer told his friends around He would cut the radicals down; Anarchist bastards was the name Judge Thayer called these two good men. I'll tell you the prosecutors' names, Katsman, Adams, Williams, Kane; The judge and lawyers strutted down, They done more tricks than circus clowns. Vanzetti docked here in 1908; He slept along the dirty streets, He told the workers “Organize” And on the electric chair he dies. All you people ought to be like me, And work like Sacco and Vanzetti; And every day find some ways to fight On the union side for workers' rights. I've got no time to tell this tale, The dicks and bulls are on my trail; But I'll remember these two good men That died to show me how to live. All you people in Suassos Lane Sing this song and sing it plain. All you folks that's coming along, Jump in with me, and sing this song.
Questions: 1)
How do the judge and prosecutor appear to be biased? 2)
Based on the lyrics, what descriptive adjectives define the individuals involved in the trial? 3)
According to the lyrics, what actually led to the execution of Sacco and Vanzetti? 4)
To what extent can Woody Guthrie be considered an accurate historical source? Radicalism in the 1920s -­‐ The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial -­‐ S2014.docx