American society 1920 Red Scare

• Red Scare


  Paranoia in the early 1920s about the alleged potential national threat of certain recent immigrants and radicals with political ideas that went against conventional American values of democracy and capitalism
• The Red Scare occurred


  Early 1920s
• Radicals


  • Had political ideas that went against the conventional American values of democracy and capitalism
• Development of the Red Scare


  1. World War One - Increased nationalistic feeling and xenophobia, creating a culture of perceiving immigrants as a threat

  2. The Russian Revolution of 1917 - Bolshevik party's communist takeover, concerns about the spread of communism, fears that immigrants intended to overthrow the government

  3. Labour strikes - Post-World War One economic slump, increased tensions between employers and trade unions, viewed as examples of political radicalism

  4. Anarchist violence - Fear of anarchists, President William McKinley's assassination
• Palmer Raids


  Widespread fear of political radicals, government became determined to get rid of communists and anarchists, harsh raids against suspected political radicals and organisations, thousands of people arrested without trial, hundreds of political radicals deported
• The political paranoia created by the Palmer Raids showed intolerance and abuses of power in US democracy
• Sacco and Vanzetti case


  Italian-born anarchists charged with robbery and murder, despite weak evidence they were found guilty and sentenced to death, widespread protests against the verdict
• Sacco and Vanzetti case


  • A 'Save Sacco and Vanzetti' protest in London