History Brief: The Red Scare in the 1920s

Summary

In the early 1920s, the United States experienced a 'Red Scare' due to the fear of a Communist takeover, fueled by the Russian Revolution and an influx of Eastern European immigrants. The Palmer Raids targeted suspected communists and anarchists, leading to over 500 deportations. Events like the 1919 mail bombings and the Wall Street explosion heightened anxiety, though many arrests were based on hysteria rather than evidence.

Takeaways

• 🔴 In the early 1920s, Americans feared that Communists, also known as 'reds,' would attempt to take over the country.
• 🛑 Communism, an economic system with no private ownership of property or businesses, was seen as a threat to the American way of life.
• 🚩 The Russian Revolution in 1917, led by the Bolsheviks, heightened fears of a similar uprising occurring in the United States.
• 👥 The influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe, where communist and anarchist philosophies were common, increased concerns among Americans.
• 💣 In 1919, a plot involving the mailing of thirty-six bombs to political figures and businessmen, including U.S. Attorney General Alexander Palmer, was uncovered.
• ⚖️ The U.S. Justice Department responded with the Palmer Raids, arresting and deporting over 500 foreign-born citizens suspected of being communists or anarchists.
• 🔥 This period of fear and panic over a communist threat became known as the 'Red Scare.'
• ⚖️ The trial and execution of two anarchists, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, for a 1920 robbery and murder further fueled the public's fear.
• 💥 A bomb exploded on Wall Street on September 16, 1920, killing 38 people and injuring over 140, with communists and anarchists suspected but no arrests made.
• 😱 Despite real incidents, historians believe much of the fear and panic over communist uprisings was due to mass hysteria and paranoia.

Q & A

Who were the Communists in the early 1920s, and why were they feared by Americans?

The Communists were members of a political ideology that promotes a system where there is no private ownership of property or businesses. They were feared by Americans because communism was seen as a threat to personal ownership, which is a core aspect of the American way of life.

What was the Bolshevik Revolution, and how did it influence fears in the United States?

The Bolshevik Revolution took place in Russia in 1917, where a Communist group, the Bolsheviks, overthrew the government. This event led to widespread fears in the U.S. that a similar communist uprising could occur there, especially with the influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe.

What was the significance of the bomb plots in 1919?

In 1919, a plot to mail thirty-six bombs to prominent political figures and businessmen, including Attorney General Alexander Palmer and Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., fueled fears of a communist and anarchist uprising. Eight additional bombs exploded simultaneously in different cities in June 1919.

What were the Palmer Raids, and what was their outcome?

The Palmer Raids were a series of actions by the U.S. Justice Department to arrest and deport suspected communists and anarchists after the 1919 bombings. More than 500 foreign-born citizens were deported as a result.

What was the 'Red Scare,' and why was it called that?

The 'Red Scare' refers to the period of intense fear and paranoia about a potential communist revolution in the U.S. The term 'reds' was a popular nickname used to describe communists.

Who were Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, and what happened to them?

Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were anarchists accused of murdering two men during an armed robbery in 1920. Despite doubts about their guilt, they were found guilty and executed in 1927, as the public searched for scapegoats amid fears of anarchism and communism.

What was the significance of the Wall Street bombing in 1920?

The Wall Street bombing in September 1920 killed 38 people and injured more than 140. While communists and anarchists were suspected, no arrests were made. This event intensified fears of radical uprisings.

Why were immigrants from Eastern Europe viewed with suspicion during this time?

Immigrants from Eastern Europe were viewed with suspicion because communist and anarchist ideologies were prevalent in that region. Many Americans feared these immigrants might bring revolutionary ideas with them to the U.S.

What role did mass hysteria and paranoia play in the Red Scare?

Mass hysteria and paranoia played a significant role in the Red Scare. Although there were some communist and anarchist elements in the U.S., much of the fear and panic was driven by exaggerated concerns about an impending revolution.

Did a major communist uprising ever occur in the U.S. during this period?

No, despite rumors and fears, a major communist uprising never materialized in the U.S. during this period. The Red Scare was largely driven by paranoia and fear of the unknown.