THE RED SCARE (1919-1920)THE RED SCARE (1919-1920)

THE COMMIES ARE COMING! THE COMMIES ARE COMING! THE COMMIES ARE COMING!THE COMMIES ARE COMING!

The Red ScareThe Red Scare CommunismCommunism: a system of government aimed at a classless : a system of government aimed at a classless

society, based upon common (rather than private) ownership of society, based upon common (rather than private) ownership of the means of productionthe means of production– Goal: end to “capitalist system that caused the exploitation of the Goal: end to “capitalist system that caused the exploitation of the

working class…”working class…”– Advocates worker’s revolution v. bourgeoisie (owner class)Advocates worker’s revolution v. bourgeoisie (owner class)

Anarchy: Anarchy: society without a publicly enforced government; society without a publicly enforced government; advocates stateless societies based on voluntary associationsadvocates stateless societies based on voluntary associations

Red ScareRed Scare: Period of anticommunist hysteria in the U.S. from : Period of anticommunist hysteria in the U.S. from 1919-1920; culminating in the Palmer Raids1919-1920; culminating in the Palmer Raids– Fear widespread infiltration of communists in the government…was Fear widespread infiltration of communists in the government…was

largely unfoundedlargely unfounded

Civil Liberties TrampledCivil Liberties Trampled Crackdown on Socialism/Communism, dissent, civil liberties Crackdown on Socialism/Communism, dissent, civil liberties

during WWI.during WWI.– Espionage/Sedition ActsEspionage/Sedition Acts– Connecticut clothing salesmen was sentenced to sixth months in jail simply for Connecticut clothing salesmen was sentenced to sixth months in jail simply for

saying Lenin was smarsaying Lenin was smart

Repression at the State LevelRepression at the State Level– Suspects of disloyalty must kiss flagSuspects of disloyalty must kiss flag

– No red or black flagsNo red or black flags

– Change curriculum; teachers must sign loyalty oathsChange curriculum; teachers must sign loyalty oaths

American Protective League—spy on neighbors, men must American Protective League—spy on neighbors, men must show draft cardsshow draft cards

Anti-Communist/Socialist sentiment reaches a climax in 1919…Anti-Communist/Socialist sentiment reaches a climax in 1919…WHY?WHY?

Causes of Red ScareCauses of Red Scare Bolshevik (Communist) Revolution in Russia; Communist, Bolshevik (Communist) Revolution in Russia; Communist,

Vladimir Lenin calls for world workers to rise up in general Vladimir Lenin calls for world workers to rise up in general strikes (1917)strikes (1917)– Fear of communism spreads: seen as threatFear of communism spreads: seen as threat

1919: 4 million go on general strike across U.S.—met by 1919: 4 million go on general strike across U.S.—met by government, employers, patriotic org.government, employers, patriotic org.– Seattle Shipyard Strike: crushed by US troopsSeattle Shipyard Strike: crushed by US troops

– Boston Police Strike: entire force firedBoston Police Strike: entire force fired

– Great Steel Strike: put down through propaganda and fear mongeringGreat Steel Strike: put down through propaganda and fear mongering

Series of Anarchist bombings in 1919Series of Anarchist bombings in 1919 Rising Rising NativismNativism: Perceive immigrants to U.S. (esp. S. & E. : Perceive immigrants to U.S. (esp. S. & E.

Europeans) as radicalsEuropeans) as radicals

The Red Menace

“Employees lose respect for a company that fails to provide decent facilities for their comfort.”

Why were labor unions often vilified during Why were labor unions often vilified during the Red Scare?the Red Scare?

“The Case against the Reds”– “…It has been impossible in so short a space to review the entire menace of the

internal revolution in this country as I know it, but this may serve to arouse the American citizen to its reality, its danger, and the great need of united effort to stamp it out, under our feet, if needs be. It is being done. The Department of Justice will pursue the attack of these "Reds" upon the Government of the United States with vigilance, and no alien, advocating the overthrow of existing law and order in this country, shall escape arrest and prompt deportation.

– It is my belief that while they have stirred discontent in our midst, while they have caused irritating strikes, and while they have infected our social ideas with the disease of their own minds and their unclean morals we can get rid of them! and not until we have done so shall we have removed the menace of Bolshevism for good.”

» Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer

» Forum, issue 63 (1920)

Palmer RaidsPalmer Raids Attorney General: A. Mitchell PalmerAttorney General: A. Mitchell Palmer

– Believes steel strike part of worldwide communist ConspiracyBelieves steel strike part of worldwide communist Conspiracy

– Wants shot at presidency: uses fears of communism and Wants shot at presidency: uses fears of communism and immigrants to his advantage immigrants to his advantage

U.S. Attorney General U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell PalmerA. Mitchell Palmer, got $500k , got $500k from Congressfrom Congress

Goal: The Palmer raids were a series of raids conducted nationwide by the Department of Justice in an attempt to arrest and deport certain left (communist) leaning radical elements.

Palmer RaidsPalmer Raids Appointed Appointed J. Edgar Hoover J. Edgar Hoover to lead investigationsto lead investigations Dispatches fed. Agents to raid radical (Communist, Socialist, Anarchist) Dispatches fed. Agents to raid radical (Communist, Socialist, Anarchist)

and labor organizations to “root out conspiracies to overthrow US and labor organizations to “root out conspiracies to overthrow US governmentgovernment– Over 6,000 arrested or deported w/o trialOver 6,000 arrested or deported w/o trial– Civil Liberties CrushedCivil Liberties Crushed

» Often lack search warrants, people denied attorneys, unlawful detainedOften lack search warrants, people denied attorneys, unlawful detained

– Compile files on hundreds of thousands AmericansCompile files on hundreds of thousands Americans– IWW destroyed/Socialist Party crushedIWW destroyed/Socialist Party crushed– ALMOST NO EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING FOUND!ALMOST NO EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING FOUND!– Colbert Report: NSA Prism Surveillance Program

– Palmer Raids: Mini Lesson

Which rights were most affected by the Which rights were most affected by the Palmer Raids?Palmer Raids?

Rising NativismRising Nativism

By 1911, over 45 million By 1911, over 45 million immigrantsimmigrants– S. and E. European origins; also S. and E. European origins; also

Jewish, Orthodox, Catholic Jewish, Orthodox, Catholic

NativismNativism– Strong anti-immigrant sentimentStrong anti-immigrant sentiment

Nativists believe immigrants Nativists believe immigrants were diluting Amer. culturewere diluting Amer. culture

Also, economic backlashAlso, economic backlash– Leads to calls for restrictionsLeads to calls for restrictions

Immigration RestrictionsImmigration Restrictions Emergency Quota Act (1921)/Immigration Act of Emergency Quota Act (1921)/Immigration Act of

19241924– Made immigration restriction a permanent policyMade immigration restriction a permanent policy– Set quotas at 2% of each national group rep. in the 1890 Set quotas at 2% of each national group rep. in the 1890

census…WHY 1890?census…WHY 1890?» Goal: Drastically cut immigration from Southern/Eastern Goal: Drastically cut immigration from Southern/Eastern

Europe…why?Europe…why?

– Literacy requirementsLiteracy requirements Creates an “America for Americans Only” attitude…Creates an “America for Americans Only” attitude…

which along with the fear of communism triggers mass which along with the fear of communism triggers mass discriminationdiscrimination

Sacco and VanzettiSacco and VanzettiSacco-Vanzetti TrialSacco-Vanzetti Trial– Italian immigrants-accused of robbery and murderItalian immigrants-accused of robbery and murder

» Italian descent/anarchists both work against themItalian descent/anarchists both work against them

– Unfair trial-sentenced to executionUnfair trial-sentenced to execution

– Mass protests in Europe—executed in 1927Mass protests in Europe—executed in 1927

– Significance?Significance?» Example of fear of irrational fear of “radicalism” as well as nativism toward Example of fear of irrational fear of “radicalism” as well as nativism toward

immigrantsimmigrants

“I wish to tell you I am innocent and never connected with any crime... I wish to forgive some people for what they are now doing to me.”

Sacco and Vanzetti Trial

Sacco and Vanzetti Innocent?

““I am suffering because I am a radical. Indeed I am suffering because I am a radical. Indeed I am a radical. I have suffered because I I am a radical. I have suffered because I

was Italian. Indeed, I am an Italian. I have was Italian. Indeed, I am an Italian. I have suffered more for my family and my suffered more for my family and my beloved than for myself. But I am so beloved than for myself. But I am so convinced to be right that if you could convinced to be right that if you could execute me two times, and if I could be execute me two times, and if I could be

reborn two other times, I would live again reborn two other times, I would live again to do what I have done already. I have to do what I have done already. I have

finished. Thank you.”finished. Thank you.”

-Bartolomeo Vanzetti-Bartolomeo Vanzetti

The Ku Klux KlanThe Ku Klux Klan Great increase

In powerAnti-black

Anti-immigrant

Anti-women’s suffrage

Anti-bootleggers

Anti-Semitic

Anti-Catholic

The Ku Klux KlanThe Ku Klux Klan

1923 4 million members1923 4 million members Control 6 governorships including IN (not Control 6 governorships including IN (not

just in South)just in South) D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a NationD.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation

– Explicitly racist landmark American filmExplicitly racist landmark American film– Still used as a recruitment piece for Klan Still used as a recruitment piece for Klan

membershipmembership