The Red Scare

This section explains the Red Scare in 1920’s America. In the early 1920s, a widespread sense of paranoia gripped American society regarding the potential national threat posed by certain recent immigrants and political radicals. These individuals were believed to harbour ideologies that clashed with core American values such as democracy and capitalism. This period of fear and suspicion, often associated with the rise of communism and anarchism, became known as the Red Scare.

The Development of the Red Scare

Several key events contributed to the development and intensification of the Red Scare:

World War I: The aftermath of the First World War fostered a surge in nationalism, which often led to xenophobia – a fear or dislike of foreigners. Immigrants, particularly those from Eastern and Southern Europe, were increasingly viewed as potential threats to American society, as their political beliefs were often perceived to be foreign or un-American. The war's patriotic fervour further fuelled suspicion of any immigrant communities thought to be sympathetic to anti-American ideologies.

The Russian Revolution of 1917: In Russia, the Bolshevik political party, led by Vladimir Lenin, successfully overthrew the Russian monarchy and established a communist government. The Bolshevik Revolution, followed by the subsequent Russian Civil War, sent shockwaves through the world. The American government, along with several European nations, was deeply concerned about the spread of communism and sought to suppress any similar movements. Some American officials even sent troops to support the White Army, the anti-communist faction in Russia. This fear extended to Russian, Eastern European, and Southern European immigrants, who were suspected of harbouring communist sympathies and plotting to overthrow the American government. As a result, the fear of a communist revolution in the U.S. became central to the Red Scare.

Labour Strikes and Economic Unrest: Following the end of the First World War, the United States experienced a sharp economic slump. This downturn led to rising tensions between employers and trade unions, with workers demanding better wages and conditions. In 1919, a wave of strikes erupted across the country, culminating in the Seattle General Strike. These strikes were viewed by many as evidence of growing radicalism and a sign that the working class was seeking to overthrow the established order. As industrial unrest increased, many believed that workers might be influenced by communist or anarchist ideologies.

Anarchist Violence: There was also a pervasive fear of anarchists in America. Anarchism, which advocates for the abolition of government and the establishment of a stateless society, was seen by many as a dangerous and violent ideology. The assassination of President William McKinley in 1901 by an anarchist further heightened fear. In the years following, anarchists carried out a number of violent acts, including bombings, contributing to the growing sense of unease. This climate of fear and suspicion laid the groundwork for the Red Scare.

The Palmer Raids

The most significant manifestation of the Red Scare was the series of Palmer Raids, named after A. Mitchell Palmer, the U.S. Attorney General at the time. These raids were triggered by a wave of anarchist bombings in 1919, including a deadly bomb explosion on Wall Street in New York that killed 38 people. Although no one was convicted of this attack, it further stoked fears about the threat posed by political radicals. In July 1919, Palmer’s home was bombed, and he used this incident to rally public support for a crackdown on suspected communists and anarchists.

The government, under Palmer’s direction, began a series of mass arrests of suspected radicals, including both communists and anarchists. The raids targeted organisations and individuals accused of subverting the American government. Thousands of people were arrested without trial, and many of them were deported. One of the most notable figures deported during this time was Emma Goldman, a prominent anarchist who had immigrated to the U.S. in 1885. Goldman was an outspoken critic of American society and its political system, which led to her being deported to Russia in 1919.

The Sacco and Vanzetti Case

One of the most infamous cases associated with the Red Scare was that of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian-born anarchists who were convicted of robbery and murder in 1921. Despite the weak evidence against them and the fact that their defence presented 107 witnesses who could vouch for their whereabouts at the time of the crime, they were found guilty. The judge, Webster Thayer, stated that even though Vanzetti may not have committed the crime, he was "morally culpable" because of his radical political views. The trial was widely seen as politically motivated, with many believing that the men were convicted because of their anarchist beliefs rather than any solid evidence of their guilt.

Sacco and Vanzetti's case sparked international protests, particularly from political activists in Europe, who viewed the trial as a miscarriage of justice driven by xenophobia and political repression. In 1925, a man named Celestino Madeiros came forward and admitted to committing the crime for which Sacco and Vanzetti had been convicted. Despite this new evidence, Sacco and Vanzetti were executed by electrocution in 1927. The case became a symbol of the dangers of political persecution and the abuse of power during the Red Scare, raising important questions about justice, fairness, and the rule of law.

The Red Scare of the early 1920s was a time of intense fear and suspicion in the United States. Fueled by the aftermath of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and increasing social and economic unrest, the U.S. government and society became increasingly hostile towards immigrants, radicals, and those perceived as a threat to the established order. The Palmer Raids, the Sacco and Vanzetti case, and other events of the period highlighted the dangers of political paranoia, xenophobia, and the erosion of civil liberties in the face of national fear. The legacy of the Red Scare remains an important chapter in American history, serving as a reminder of the balance that must be struck between national security and the protection of individual rights.