Red Scare Overview and Immigration Restrictions

Questions and Answers

What is the Red Scare?

The rounding up and deportation of several hundred immigrants of radical political views by the federal government in 1919 and 1920.

Between 1820 and 1920, how many immigrants came to live in America?

35 million

When did new laws that restricted the number of immigrants coming into the USA get introduced?

1910s and 1920s

Why did people see immigrants as enemies?

They thought that they were bringing in 'un-American' ideas into the country. Signup and view all the answers

How many Russian immigrants did the US let in prior to 1920?

1.5 million Signup and view all the answers

What was the 'American Communist Party'?

A party founded in 1919, mainly by Russians. Signup and view all the answers

How did Americans react to the American Communist Party?

Americans were scared that members might start a communist revolution like the USSR revolution. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when 100,000 members of the Boston police went on strike?

Communists were blamed. Signup and view all the answers

What happened in July 1919?

A terrorist attack outside the house of Alexander Palmer. Signup and view all the answers

Why did people fear anarchists?

In 1901, an anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, shot dead President William McKinley. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 'Palmer Raids'?

The Palmer Raids occurred when Palmer decided to get rid of America's communists, arresting around 6000 suspected communists. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to trade union membership after the Red Scare?

Trade union membership went down from 6 million in 1920 to 3.6 million in 1923. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Red Scare Overview

The Red Scare refers to the 1919-1920 period marked by the federal government's deportation of several hundred immigrants with radical political beliefs due to fears of communist subversion following the Russian Revolution.
Approximately 35 million immigrants arrived in America between 1820 and 1920, leading to growing concerns about their political influence.

Immigration Restrictions

New laws significantly limiting immigration were enacted during the 1910s and 1920s in response to societal tensions.
Immigrants were often viewed as threats, accused of introducing 'un-American' ideas, especially associating Russian immigrants with communist ideologies.

American Communist Party

The American Communist Party was established in 1919, primarily by Russian immigrants, fueling public anxiety about potential communist revolutions akin to the one in the USSR.
The party's existence heightened fears among Americans who worried about the possibility of a similar uprising within the United States.

Labor Strikes and Anarchist Fears

A notable incident involved a strike by 100,000 Boston police officers in which communists were blamed for the unrest.
In July 1919, there was a terrorist attack linked to communism, where a bomb exploded near the residence of Attorney General Alexander Palmer, accompanied by propaganda from a communist newspaper.

Palmer Raids

The Palmer Raids were initiated by Attorney General Palmer to arrest suspected communists, resulting in around 6,000 arrests across 33 cities.
Authorities found minimal evidence, only a few pistols and no explosives, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the fears driving the raids.

Impact on Trade Unions

The Red Scare led to a decline in trade union membership, dropping from 6 million in 1920 to 3.6 million in 1923, reflecting widespread paranoia and decreased worker solidarity during this tumultuous period.

Description

Explore the Red Scare of 1919-1920, a pivotal period marked by mass deportations of immigrants due to fears of communism following the Russian Revolution. Learn about immigration restrictions implemented in response to societal tensions and the establishment of the American Communist Party, which intensified public anxiety about radical ideologies.