The Red Scare 1919-20

Question 1

What was the red scare?

Answer 1

Fear of communism and its spread.

Question 2

What was the Espionage Act and the Sedition Act?

Answer 2

Sedition Act 1918 amended Espionage Act 1917
Crime to criticise govt/constitution
1500 people arrested, 245 people deported to Russia
People become neurotic + accused neighbours

Question 3

How many people were arrested for disloyalty to the state?

Answer 3

1500 people

Question 4

How did the Red Scare lead to the Palmer raids?

Answer 4

Belief communists + anarchists everywhere - responsible for all of America’s problems + must be rooted out
150,000 anarchists in 1920 - 0.1% of population
Series of strikes in 1919 - police of Boston + 100,000s of steel/coal, communists got blame

Question 5

What were the Palmer Raids?

Answer 5

Instigated by US Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer from 1919-20
Conducted by federal agents = mass arrests, deportation of immigrant political radicals