This is an adaptation of other resources combined with ian dawsons continuum which shows the complex nature of history. High schoolers investigate the saccovanzetti trial and develop a basic understanding of the issues involved. Three weeks later, sacco and vanzetti were charged with the crime. The murder trial of nicola sacco and bartolomeo vanzetti convulsed the country during the 1920s, pitting liberals and civil libertarians against the state of massachusetts and the federal government. The case and execution were commemorated in an outpouring of literary expression. To gain research skills, such as evaluation of sources and thesis writing, develop knowledge about the 1920s, as well as develop creativity skills. This broadside, published by the saccovanzetti defense committee, articulates the reasons for the pairs. The sacco and vanzetti case is still hotly debated in some circles today as a classic example of the tyranny of the establishment over.
In this lesson, students will research the case of sacco and vanzetti. The red scare fears were fueled by small, but highly vocal, groups of radicals who preached the downfall of the corrupt. In conclusion, i, and many others, recommend utilizing this book as a resource for any sacco and vanzetti lesson. After completing their research, students will evaluate their evidence and decide the guilt of sacco and vanzetti.
Nicola sacco 22 april 1891 23 august 1927 and bartolomeo vanzetti 11 june 1888 23 august 1927 were two italian men who were convicted of murder in the united states in 1920. Sacco and vanzetti facts for kids american historama. What role did social and cultural changes play in america during the 1920s. If we were to conduct a mock trial of this case, would you. This experience got me thinking about the other visual elements in the city commemorating sacco and vanzetti. Additionally, you might want to refer to some of these lesson plans that specifically serve as starting points to a more thorough interdisciplinary projectbased approach to the sacco and vanzetti case, as well as the 1920s era.
New evidence in the case of sacco and vanzetti amherst. Sacco, whose cell was next to that of madeiros, was the next. In the fall of 1920 he joined the saccovanzetti defense committee. High schoolers investigate the sacco vanzetti trial and develop a basic understanding of the issues involved. This quizworksheet will help you gauge where you are concerning topics such as the atmosphere of the sacco and vanzetti trial, new immigrants, and the result of the. Trial of sacco and vanzetti primary sources the roaring. I was able to glean some of the injustice rendered in this case, but professor bortmans book clearly and concisely laid out the elements of a tainted legal system in massachusetts in the 1920s. Giuliano montaldo, who directed the 1971 feature sacco and vanzetti, tells miller, vanzetti was a man who wanted to learn. Suggested terms to look for include diary, diaries, letters, papers, documents, documentary or correspondence. Students will also be asked about the song from woody guthrie, particularly in the context of how the trial of sacco and vanzetti has been used and retold throughout history. Puglia, italy, who migrated to the united states at the age of seventeen. As students read, walk around and make sure they are completing the task. Extended controversial issue discussion lesson plan template. Free 0 mariefrance33 britain and france at war for canada.
In the eight decades since, debate has raged over what was probably a miscarriage of justice. Disheartening as it was for so many of their supporters, the saccovanzetti case is one episode in a history of lethal judicial violence against radicals, sandwiched on. The aims, objectives and differentiated outcomes are. The saccovanzetti defense committee, at the urging of anarchist leader carlo tresca, hired fred h. Teacher lesson plans, worksheets and resources sign up for the lesson planet. Using the article links provided, students will gather evidence for both sides of the case, guilty and innocent. Interviewees include historians, the daughter of one of the murder victims, friends and family of sacco and vanzetti, and. It shows not that sacco was guilty, but that both he and vanzetti were almost certainly completely innocent of the south braintree murders. During the red scare the nation became intolerant of immigrants and there was a strong belief that anarchists, communists and other radical groups were conspiring to start a a workers revolution in the united states. Without a word he took his place between the guards. Sacco and vanzetti were both italian anarchists but ones who would not act on their beliefs, after experiencing and observing the hardships and inequities of working class life in america did they start to act.
University of massachusetts press, 1985, which i coauthored with the late william young. Passes out reading resources for students and assists students. Menino, the mayor who welcomed sacco and vanzetti the. Moore, a longhaired radical lawyer from california, to lead the defense. The wellfunded defense put up a good fight, bringing forth nearly 100 witnesses to testify on the defendants. They were convicted of killing two men during an armed robbery in braintree, massachusetts sacco and vanzetti were immigrants to the country. Menino, the mayor who welcomed sacco and vanzetti it took a special bostonian to put a sculpture of anarchists in the boston public library by richard kreitner globe correspondent, november 23. Sacco and vanzetti commemoration society 11,420 views. Published by zcommunications march 11, 2009 on that 50th year after the execution, the new york times reported that. Perhaps the greatest lesson we can take away from the sacco and vanzetti case was its ability to inspire millions of people to stand up on behalf of justice and reason. He makes a compelling case that sacco was a member of the murder party and vanzetti was at least an accessory after the fact.
Sacco and vanzetti, assimilation, rudolph valentino. Sacco was a shoemaker and a night watchman, born april 22, 1891, in torremaggiore, province of foggia, apulia region in italian. The sacco and vanzetti trial salmon river high school. Plans by mayor beame to proclaim next tuesday sacco and vanzetti day have been canceled in an effort to avoid controversy, a city hall spokesman said yesterday. You will listen to the song two good men by woody guthrie, one time without the lyrics and once with the lyrics. American embassy in paris was even bombed in response to the saccovanzetti case. For a different view of the saccovanzetti case than is given here, see richard newbys essay made available to this site at 3. The same procedure was followed in the case of sacco and vanzetti.
Sacco and vanzetti is an interesting look at the infamous 1920 criminal court case that many historians believe exemplifies american political intolerance and antiforeigner sentiments in the early twentieth century. In this lesson, students examine the sacco and vanzetti trials and subsequent executions. They then analyze historical data and related materials regarding this controversial case. Before immigrating, according to a letter he sent while imprisoned, sacco worked on his fathers vineyard, often sleeping out in the field at night to prevent animals from destroying the crops. Sacco and vanzetti simple english wikipedia, the free. Study 66 terms sacco and vanzetti flashcards quizlet. Vanzetti seemed unfazed, even calling this a positive development. Having researched the case for seven years, grippo knows the sacco and vanzetti story well. Spences sacco grandson stood next to michael dukakis in 1977 as dukasis said high standards of justice. Therefore, any current lessons involving the sacco and vanzetti case should include the groundbreaking evidence that he published in with malice aforethought. What facts later came to light about sacco and vanzettis defense lawyer.
Despite these protests, sacco and vanzetti, proclaiming their innocence to the end, were electrocuted in charlestown state prison on august 23, 1927. Lesson 6law and society the sacco and vanzetti case objectives to examine one of the most controversial court cases of the 1920s, the conviction of nicola sacco and bartolomeo vanzetti of murder in dedham, massachusetts to understand the level of prejudice preva lent in the 1920s the years immediately following world war i. In november 1982, francis russell author of highlyregarded book on the saccovanzetti trial was informed in a letter from the son of giovanni gamberi, one of four members of a group formed in 1920 to. The riveting true story of one of the nations most infamous trials and executionswhen the state of massachusetts electrocuted nicola sacco and bartolomeo vanzetti on august 23, 1927, it concluded one of the most controversial legal cases in american history. A lesson on sacco and vanzetti that gets students to think about what it tells us about 1920s america rather than a simple guilty or not guilty verdict. Montgomery was a lawyer practicing in massachusetts at the time of the infamous sacco and vanzetti trial. Sacco and vanzetti were committed followers of luigi galleani, a widely influential anarchist unfortunately forgotten who argued that violence was a necessary part of political activity and widely organized against the first world war. Many americans found the evidence against the men flimsy and believed that they were being prosecuted for their immigrant background and their radical political beliefs. In a 2007 oped article in the new york times, andrea camilleri, an italian novelist, discussed the enduring legacy of the case in italy, noting, there is probably not a single italian newspaper that has not devoted an article to the case every aug. There must be good reason why a case 50yearsold, now over 75yearsold, arouses such emotion. Both were anarchists who supported rebellion against governments. A resource used for teaching about usa in the 1920sred scare.
Camilleri also noted the inspiration the story of sacco and vanzetti has been for. Their trial portrays the influence of fear as a driving force in determining the actions of a society. Sacco and vanzetti were killed by the state just after midnight on august 23, 1927. Lesson planning articles timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom. Moore decided that the best hopes for acquittals rested on turning what might have been an ordinary criminal trial into a closelywatched political trial. Students read through a new york time article about sacco and vanzetti being put to death. The italian americans on pbs episode 2 video clips pbs. The arrest, trial, and execution of sacco and vanzetti has become the poster child for the treatment of immigrants and radical groups in the early 1920s.
This lesson looks at several key issues surrounding the trail of sacco and vanzetti and includes a wide range of contemporary and modern sources to help the learner make up their own min. The trial of sacco and vanzetti umkc school of law. Using the websites listed below, students will research the saccovanzetti trial, looking at all aspects of the trial, including the biographies of the two men, excerpts of the trial transcript, pictures, summary of evidence, sentencing, etc. In the north end, at 256 hanover street, there is a plaque outside the building where the sacco and vanzetti defense committee gathered for years, trying to prove the two mens innocence. Students are reading over resources and taking notes that help support their position on the trial. At the very least, sacco and vanzetti should have been granted a new trial. He has a very different view of the events than that championed by the chattering classes, then and now. Following boston 1925the first world war, in what became known as the red scare, the u. He became deeply involved in the case after he visited sacco and vanzetti in massachusetts prisons. As the case played itself out over seven years in the 1920s, the unfairness of sacco and vanzettis treatment in the courts fueled protests not just in the united states but throughout the world. They were convicted on charges as the court dismissed many witnesses of the defense. Demonstration for sacco and vanzetti, at the hostile political climate towards immigrants and radicals. Sacco and vanzetti were ultimately found guilty, and executed by the state in 1927. Yesterdays lesson included reading from the textbook on the rise of nativism, isolationism and fear of communism and anarchism in postwwi america.
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