The First The First Red ScareRed Scare

1918-19211918-1921

WWI Ends 1918WWI Ends 1918

Numerous deaths and Numerous deaths and destructiondestruction

world “mood” altered world “mood” altered becoming violent and becoming violent and unsettledunsettled

Government during Government during WWIWWI

gained more controlgained more controlstrict laws used against strict laws used against AmericansAmericans

mood of fear and suspicionmood of fear and suspicion–Especially of foreignersEspecially of foreigners–Xenophobia Xenophobia

Soldiers return home Soldiers return home production decreases production decreases unemployment soarsunemployment soarswages fellwages fellprices of goods remain highprices of goods remain highstrikes eruptstrikes erupt

Bolshevik (Communist) Bolshevik (Communist) RevolutionRevolution

Russia, 1917Russia, 1917World’s first World’s first

communist state communist state created by Vladimir created by Vladimir Lenin Lenin

Violent stateViolent statePromoted revolutions Promoted revolutions

around the worldaround the world

Unrest Begins in the Unrest Begins in the USUS

Radicals in the West organized a Radicals in the West organized a communist party, powerlesscommunist party, powerless

Caused chaos; terrified the Caused chaos; terrified the nationnation

Communist hysteriaCommunist hysteriaApril 1919 packages with bombs April 1919 packages with bombs

delivered through the maildelivered through the mail

Responses to the Red Responses to the Red ScareScare Wilson was presidentWilson was president

Laws passed during WWI Laws passed during WWI that prevented people that prevented people from protestingfrom protesting

““Fighting Quaker” Fighting Quaker” Attorney Gen. Palmer led Attorney Gen. Palmer led crusade against leftists crusade against leftists with suspect allegiance, with suspect allegiance, 6000 suspects held.6000 suspects held.

Palmer Raids = arresting Palmer Raids = arresting US citizens who were US citizens who were radicals, imprisoned and radicals, imprisoned and denied a lawyerdenied a lawyer

The “Red Scare”The “Red Scare” Dec. 1919: 249 alien radicals Dec. 1919: 249 alien radicals

deported to Russia on the ship deported to Russia on the ship BufordBuford..

Sept. 1920: Hysteria heightened by Sept. 1920: Hysteria heightened by bomb on Wall Street.bomb on Wall Street.

Anarchy Anarchy Anarchists also Anarchists also

began to act out began to act out against the against the governmentgovernment

Bomb on Wall Bomb on Wall Street killed 38, Street killed 38, injured 400injured 400

Several states passed Several states passed criminal syndicalism laws: criminal syndicalism laws: mere advocacy of violence for mere advocacy of violence for social change was social change was criminalized.criminalized.

1920: 5 NY legislators denied 1920: 5 NY legislators denied seats because they were seats because they were Socialists.Socialists.

Conservative business owners Conservative business owners used “scare” against labor: used “scare” against labor: “open” shop was “American “open” shop was “American plan.”plan.”

1921: Many regarded the 1921: Many regarded the conviction of Sacco & Vanzetti conviction of Sacco & Vanzetti as a “judicial lynching” as a “judicial lynching” because they were Italians, because they were Italians, atheists, anarchists, and draft atheists, anarchists, and draft dodgers.dodgers.

Back to NormalBack to NormalMay 1920 things settling downMay 1920 things settling downPublic backlash to Palmer Raids Public backlash to Palmer Raids

and restrictions on protestingand restrictions on protestingWarren G. Harding elected Warren G. Harding elected

president 1921 pardoned and president 1921 pardoned and freed victims of Palmer Raidsfreed victims of Palmer Raids

Post-War Paranoia Wrap UpPost-War Paranoia Wrap Up

In what ways was America different In what ways was America different after WWI?after WWI?

Who were the two groups of people Who were the two groups of people that Americans were afraid of?that Americans were afraid of?

What is Xenophobia? What is Xenophobia? Who was executed for being Who was executed for being

suspected anarchists?suspected anarchists? What was the First Red Scare?What was the First Red Scare?