Long term causes of the Red Scare

Question 1

Immigration levels rising

Answer 1

• 2.3 million Russian and Polish Jews immigrate between 1880-1920
  Also, 2 million Polish Catholics and 4 million Italian Catholics

Question 2

Racist philosophies were popular

Answer 2

Social Darwinism: - survival of the fittest, poverty was evidence of being unfit. The ‘fit’ should survive and progress, whereas the ‘unfit’ should die off.

Manifest Destiny radicalised:
Traditional view - American settlers had God on their side as they colonised America
Radicalised view - Anglo-Saxon settlers were able to colonise USA because they were biologically and racially superior to the other groups in the USA

Question 3

Communism seemed a threat to the USA

Answer 3

All that communism stood for went against American values
Capitalism - USA:
Democratically elected government, free market economy, few rights for workers, American dream - anyone can become rich.
Communism - Russia:
Aiming for no government, state run economy, workers glorified, wealth distributed equally