Fear of Bolshevism
What 1917 event in Russia made Americans fear a communist revolution at home?
The Bolshevik (Russian) Revolution
In 1919, how many labor strikes occurred in the U.S.?
Over 3,600
Who was the U.S. Attorney General targeted by anarchist bombings?
A. Mitchell Palmer
Which two regions’ immigrants were most feared during the Red Scare?
Eastern and Southern Europe
What phrase describes the fear-driven suppression of rights during the Red Scare?
“Paranoia over patriotism”
What new country was formed as a result of the Bolshevik Revolution?
The Soviet Union
How many workers were involved in these strikes?
Over 4 million workers
What were the “Palmer Raids”?
Government raids that arrested thousands of suspected radicals without warrants
What 1921 law limited immigration for the first time based on nationality quotas?
The Emergency Quota Act
What did “protecting Americanism” often come to mean during the Red Scare?
Silencing dissent and targeting immigrants and radicals
Who did many Americans believe might lead a communist uprising in the U.S.?
Poor workers, immigrants, and labor organizers
What did workers demand during these strikes?
Better wages and working conditions
What event triggered these raids?
A wave of anarchist bombings between 1919–1920
What 1924 law further restricted immigration from non-Western European countries?
The National Origins Act
What constitutional freedoms were threatened during the Red Scare?
Freedom of speech, press, and assembly
What term described people suspected of supporting communism or socialism?
“Reds”
Why did many Americans fear the strikes were dangerous?
They thought they were communist-inspired
What major civil right was violated during the Palmer Raids?
Protection from unlawful search and seizure (violations of the Fourth Amendment)
Why were immigrants blamed for the unrest of the Red Scare?
They were associated with radical political ideas and viewed as “un-American”
What group’s influence declined because of being linked to communism?
Labor unions
Which groups in the U.S. especially feared Bolshevism because it threatened their power?
Wealthy business leaders, church groups, and government officials
What was the long-term effect of this fear on labor unions?
Union membership declined sharply
What was the public’s reaction to the bombings and raids?
Widespread panic and support for government crackdowns on radicals
What happened to many immigrants during the Palmer Raids?
They were deported without fair trials or evidence
How did the Red Scare shape U.S. policy and culture afterward?
It led to long-lasting suspicion of radicals and immigrants, influencing later anti-communist movements like McCarthyism