The Red Scare of the 1920s – Communist Witch Hunts and the Sacco and Venzetti Trial

After the Russian Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 made Vladimir Lenin a dictator, democracy around the world was nervous about Communist ideology.

The reason quickly yielded the way to fear, and soon "red panic" spread like wildfire in all parts of the United States.

Socialist publications and labor unions are particularly suspicious, conflict happened soon. On the ceasefire anniversary of November 1919, members of the US military marched in front of the headquarters of the world industrial workers (IWW) in Siberia, Washington. At the end of everyone, four Legionella died and one IWW staff was killed by an angry mob.

Government officials hit "witches" under the name of democracy and increased momentum. Mr. Mitchell Palmer Attorney General told those who invested in free bonds that the "Red Man" tried to rob him of everything he had. "Boiler Board Propaganda" was announced to "news" including "Bolshevik and terrible mustache" and asked if this would like to rule the United States. He made a huge hysteria

Soon, the FBI began to monitor the team to look for "non-US" activities. In the coming months, about 1000 "alien extremists" were deported by so-called "Palmer attack". Five officially elected New York State Senators and members of the Socialist Party Milwaukee's Parliament were expelled from the seats.

People are beginning to notice that something is dirty simply by marking it "red." Historian writer Frederic Lewis Allen wrote in 1931 that "All kinds of career, good, evil, indifferent, everything is dressed in the old glory and the creation of the country Renminbi and its matchup With the partner, Lenin 's alliance ... traces of doubts hanging in the air, intolerance has become an American virtue. "

Communism was not the only fear of the 1920s. At that time, Americans began fear of immigration. These two problems are usually related. The Sacco and Vanzetti litigation is a prominent example of anti-immigrant sentiment in the 1920's.

In April 1920, two men in South Braintree, Massachusetts shot security guards and payer from Slater and Merrill Lynch, and missed salary. The police arrested two Italian immigrants and accused them of robbery and murder

Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were asked mainly about their political beliefs for two days and it was not told why they are being held. In subsequent trials, their ethnic background and political ideas seemed to play a greater role than the facts of the incident. Judge Webster Sayer, who chaired the lawsuit, called them "anarchist dude".

Sacco had numerous places on the crime scene a few miles away from the crime scene, both of whom were convicted and received a death sentence. Their attorneys tried to give them new trials based on new evidence, including a confession of another prisoner very similar to Sacco. Eight appeals, including appeals from the Supreme Court, failed and were executed in August 1927.

The arrest of Sacco and Fan Zetti was consistent with fierce political repression in the American history from 1919 to 1920. The red panic had a major impact on the arrest and trial of Sacco and Fan Zetti. In the early 1920s Americans were very delusive about the penetration of American communists. Therefore, they are biased towards immigrants and those who seem a bit aggressive. As most of the US thinks like this, during this time, can two Italian immigrants, considered anarchists, be given a fair trial? For this reason, Sacco and Vanzetti lawyer Fred H. Moor decided not to defend Sacco and Vanzetti for the crime of homicide and robbery. They are not convicted for evidence but are convicted for their opinion. The defense of the Moor caused many political tensions

First, red panic is the pursuit of Communists, and "crucible" is about witch hunting during trial of Salem Witch. This makes the crime case completely different. Furthermore, unlike Salem Witch Trials, Red Scare is more political. In "crucible" people in the town were condemned, but during the red panic, mainly prominent politicians and Hollywood stars were under investigation. Finally, the penalties of the two events are different. If people are accused of communism, during the red panic, these people will be blacklisted. This means that they are likely to be unmanned as they are fired. In "crucible", those who are convicted will be executed unless they decide to admit the crime. Overall, there are some differences between "The Crucible" and Red Scare that make these events different in history. In many respects, "crucible" was written as a warning story