● During the Red Scare of 1919-1920, many in the United States feared recent
immigrants and dissidents, particularly those who embraced communist,
socialist, or anarchist ideology. The causes of the Red Scare included:
● World War I, which led many to embrace strong nationalistic and
anti-immigrant sympathies;
● The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, which led many to fear that immigrants,
particularly from Russia, southern Europe, and eastern Europe, intended to
overthrow the United States government;
● The end of World War I, which caused production needs to decline and
unemployment to rise. Many workers joined labor unions. Labor strikes,
including the Boston Police Strike in September 1919, contributed to fears
that radicals intended to spark a revolution
Watch the short video below and answer the questions provided.
History Brief: The Red Scare in the 1920s
1. How did the Red Scare of 1919-1920 reflect the political manipulation in
media of previous events like the Haymarket in 1886?
2. After acts like the Espionage and Sedition Acts, how did First Amendment
protections play into the Red Scare?
3. In your opinion, were events on the world stage, like the Russian Revolution,
a threat to the United States in the post-WWI era? In other words, was the
Red Scare something that was warranted or an overreach? Explain.
Sufficient = INITIAL POST should contain 300 words, substantive and addresses the
prompt. Each of the the required secondary posts and commentary should EACH be at
least 150 words of relevant and substantial responses
