On April 13, 1913, a thirteen-year-old, National Pencil Factory employee, Mary Phagan was found murdered in the factory’s basement. Leo Frank, the manager of the factory was soon charged with the crime and put on trial, despite the lack of evidence against him. Frank continually told the police of his whereabouts the day of the killing and was steadfast in his innocence. Despite Frank’s account, the police and media began spreading word of his “deviant nature,” causing the public to assume his guilt. As Frank’s trial began his assumed guilt along with his racial background, and northern heritage made him an easy target for public justice. The prosecution’s star witness Jim Conley repeatedly altered his story while on the stand and despite his inconsistencies the prosecution went on to achieve a guilty verdict. An estimated 5,000 people arrived at the courthouse to hear the final verdict. This verdict caused Jewish leaders around the nation rallied around Frank and preached the “lawlessness” of Georgia’s courts. Georgia’s …show more content…
As a result patriotism was emphasized during this period. Due to World War I the nation was in “political turmoil as communist, fascist, socialist, and anarchist movements were spreading.” The Russian Revolution also ended in 1920 causing President Woodrow Wilson to call for democracy across the world. But not all Americans, and incoming immigrants shared this desire for democracy. Those who did not call for democracy were labeled radicals and a threat. Anyone who opposed the U.S. government was quickly arrested and labeled a “Red” who was a threat to democracy. Thousands of people were arrested and immigrants deported throughout this time period. Sacco and Vanzetti’s trial took place during this period of unrest that eventually began known as the Red