The trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti in the 1920s was an important trial for American history. These two men were charged with murder during an armed robbery, and found guilty and executed by electric chair. The entire trial was filled with problems, ranging from biased opinions of the judge to untrustworthy evidence. Because of this, some people still question the verdict today. In Sacco and Vanzetti: The Men, The Murders, and the Judgment of Mankind, Bruce Watson presented his views of the trial. Watson presented both sides of the argument, but it's clear that he believed the two men were wrongfully found guilty of a crime they did not commit. This trial came about during an important and hard time in American history known as the Red Scare era. There were constant fears of anarchists and radicals rising to power, forming unions, strikes, and even assassination attempts; therefore, the general public made irrational decisions to protect themselves. When Sacco and Vanzetti fit the description of the murder, they were forced into a long and unfair trial, which became known around the world and became a trial that would never be forgotten.
Sacco and Vanzetti clearly stated that they were anarchists from the beginning; however, their view of anarchy was much different from that of the American population. Sacco and Vanzetti believed that the U.S. government held its people back from their own freedom. They believed that the U.S. would be a much better place without the oppression of the government. Sacco and Vanzetti, along with many other anarchists, specifically disliked the structure of capitalism. During this time period, factory worker conditions were far from great. They would be forced to work countless hours during the week, with very little pay. There was also no minimum wage, so the workers struggled day by to day to support their family. There was also no workers compensation or health insurance of any kind for most factory workers.
