Why was there a Red Scare
in the USA in1919 and 1920?
Legacy of the First World War
Russia left the war after the Bolshevik revolution
USA was afraid of communism taking root in America too
Ideological differences
The 'American Dream' that anyone could get to the top
But in Communism there is no 'top' to get to
Marxism taught to spread communism - the Americans were proud of their successful capitalism
Recent communist movements elsewhere
Revolutions and uprisings in Berlin, Munich and Hungary
Anti- trade union feeling
Trade unions had never been very popular - legacy of
events such as Pullman strike of 1894 and the bombing of
the Los Angeles Times building by two unhappy trade
union workers
Communism was seen as similar to trade unionism
Dislike of foreigners
Foreigners were seen as having dragged the USA into war
Epsionage and Sedition acts; said that immigrants were spying
Wilson: There are citizens of the United States born under
other flags but welcomed under our generous naturalization laws
to the full freedom and opportunity of America, who have
poured the poison of disloyalty into the very arteries of our
national life...'
Led to Sacco + Vanzetti trial and Palmer Raids
African-American migration
Many African-Americans migrated north during the war; there
were more oppurtunities for them there, especially with the
wartime industry boom
Unfortunately they helped spread prejudice against anyone
who wasn't a WASP (white anglo-saxon protestant)
There were 20 race riots in 1919 - 38 people died in one in Chicago
High inflation
Wages went up more slowly and many veterans were unemployed
This left a lot of young men knocking around with nothing to do except get into
trouble, helping cause race riots
They were also angry with immigrants who, willing to work cheaply, got jobs fairly easily