5 Questions
Who were the Communists that Americans were terrified of in the early 1920s?
The Communists were a group known as the Bolsheviks who took over Russia in 1917.
Why was there such a widespread fear of Communists in the early 1920s?
There was a widespread fear of Communists because their economic system, which involved no private ownership of businesses or property, was viewed as a threat to the American way of life, which values personal ownership.
Why did the influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe increase the fear of a communist uprising in the United States?
The influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe, where communist and anarchist philosophies were prevalent, increased the fear of a communist uprising in the United States as it was believed to heighten the likelihood of such an event.
What is the definition of an anarchist according to the text?
An anarchist is someone who believes that there should be no government.
What event in 1919 appeared to confirm the fears of a communist uprising in the United States?
In 1919, it appeared that many of the fears of a communist uprising would be proven correct.
Study Notes
The Red Scare of the 1920s
- Americans were terrified of Bolsheviks, a type of Communist, in the early 1920s due to their radical ideology and the recent Russian Revolution.
Fear of Communism
- Widespread fear of Communists was fueled by the perceived threat of radical ideologies and the rise of labor unions and protests.
Immigrant Influx and Fear
- The influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe, particularly from Russia and Poland, increased fear of a communist uprising in the United States, as many Americans associated these immigrants with radical politics.
Anarchists
- An anarchists, according to the text, are individuals who reject all forms of government and authority.
The Palmer Raids
- The Palmer Raids, a series of raids conducted in 1919, appeared to confirm the fears of a communist uprising in the United States, as thousands of suspected radicals were arrested and hundreds deported.
Test your knowledge of the Red Scare and the fear of Communism in the 1920s with this quiz. Learn about the Bolsheviks and the economic system of Communism, and understand why Americans were so fearful of its potential spread in the United States.
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