Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Italian immigrant anarchists who were convicted of murdering two men during a 1920 armed robbery in Braintree, Massachusetts. The trial and subsequent appeals became a cause clbre, highlighting nativism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and anti-radicalism prevalent in the United States during the Red Scare. The perceived lack of conclusive evidence and the biased conduct of the judge, Webster Thayer, fueled widespread protests both domestically and internationally.
The historical significance of this case lies in its exposure of the deep-seated prejudices and fears within American society during the early 20th century. The case underscored the tension between the ideals of justice and equality and the realities of discrimination based on ethnicity, political beliefs, and social class. Their execution in 1927 became a symbol of injustice for many, solidifying the event as a landmark case in American legal and social history. For AP US History students, understanding this episode provides critical insight into the social and political anxieties of the era and their impact on American identity.
