Red Scare

1919 Political Cartoon (14759129762) (cropped)

Come unto me, ye opprest

Palmer Bombing

Joseph McCarthy

People Demand Peace

Red Scare refers to the fear of communism and anarchism that permeated American society in two major waves. The first wave, which occurred after World War I, is known as the "First Red Scare," from 1917 to 1920. The second wave, known as the "Second Red Scare," took place during the Cold War era, particularly in the late 1940s and 1950s. These periods were characterized by widespread fear of radical political ideologies, leading to government actions against perceived communists and radicals, public hysteria, and violations of civil liberties.

First Red Scare (1917-1920)

The First Red Scare was triggered by the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917, which led to the establishment of a communist government. The fear that communism would spread to the United States resulted in a nationwide panic. During this time, the U.S. government, under the leadership of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, conducted raids and arrests of suspected radicals, known as the Palmer Raids. These actions were part of a broader campaign to suppress anarchist and communist movements, which included the deportation of foreign-born radicals.

Second Red Scare (1947-1957)

The Second Red Scare occurred in the context of the Cold War and was fueled by the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. The fear of communist infiltration of the U.S. government and other institutions led to a series of investigations by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and other bodies. One of the most notable figures of this era was Senator Joseph McCarthy, whose name has become synonymous with the era's anti-communist efforts, known as McCarthyism. McCarthy's aggressive tactics and baseless accusations led to a climate of fear and repression.

Impact and Legacy

The Red Scares had a profound impact on American society. They led to the erosion of civil liberties, with thousands of Americans being accused of subversion or communism without proper evidence. Careers were destroyed, and lives were significantly altered due to the hysteria. The Red Scares also influenced U.S. foreign policy, leading to a more aggressive stance against communism worldwide.

In the long term, the Red Scares contributed to the development of a more vigilant and sometimes paranoid stance towards internal and external threats in the United States. They also highlighted the tensions between national security and individual freedoms, a debate that continues in various forms to this day.

See Also

• McCarthyism
• Cold War
• Bolshevik Revolution
• House Un-American Activities Committee
• Civil Liberties