1_-_sacco_and_vanzetti_key (1)

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School

CUNY Queens College *

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1O4

Subject

Philosophy

Date

Oct 30, 2023

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Uploaded by arfaorpita

Name: ______________________________________ S ACCO & V ANZETTI : A M ODERN P ERSPECTIVE – T WO I MMIGRANTS T ARGETED FOR THEIR B ELIEFS I Questions 1) How does the Red Scare relate to the arrest and execution of Sacco and Vanzetti? - The two Italian immigrants were anarchist and socialists. America at the time was afraid of Communism/socialism spreading in the U.S., so they were blamed for a robbery and murder and sentenced to death with little to no evidence for committing the crime. 2) Describe two ways in which the justice system was biased against Sacco and Vanzetti. (Hint: judge, jury, court procedures, etc.) - Judge Webster Thayer, who presided over the trial, said to the jury at the outset, "Although this man (Sacco) may not have committed the crime attributed to him, he is nonetheless culpable [guilty] because he is the enemy of our existing institutions." He was reportedly later overheard saying, "Did you see what I did with those anarchist bastards the other day?" - The jury was made up of white, native-born people who, in the midst of an incredible anti-immigrant backlash, was supposed to impartially decide the fate of two Italian immigrants who were anarchists. - The prosecutor systematically played on the feelings of the jury by exploiting the unpatriotic and despised beliefs of Sacco and Vanzetti. - Even without any substantial founded evidence, Judge Thayer denied 8 different requests for retrial put before him. 3) What lessons can be learned from this event? - Answers will vary, but may include: *Don't believe everything you hear from the media." *Don't take what you have for granted. Freedom is not free!" *Does a defendant's ethnicity or political creed continue to shape the kind of justice that we offer in this country? In other words, do we continue to discriminate people and accuse people of wrongful acts based on their race/political beliefs? *Is our justice system fair and just? *Millions of people, then, were inspired to stand up and fight on behalf of justice and reason. Are they now? Interpreting political cartoons - A lot can be said by making historical analogies or comparisons. 4) What is the connection between Salem in 1692 and Boston in 1927? - Both consisted of victims who were accused and executed without proof as a result of people's fear and hysteria. 5) What is the cartoonist trying to show by making this comparison? - By showing this comparison, the cartoonist is trying to convey that not much has changed in our society in the last 200+ years; Discrimination still exists and people continue to make judgments about others based on false accusations/own fears.

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