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The Red Scare

The Red Scare. How anarchism, industrial unrest and anti-immigrant sentiment led to a crackdown against “radicals”. Post World War I. End of war brings end of labor shortage and end of government contracts Corporations need fewer workers Returning soldiers need jobs

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The Red Scare

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  1. The Red Scare How anarchism, industrial unrest and anti-immigrant sentiment led to a crackdown against “radicals”

  2. Post World War I • End of war brings end of labor shortage and end of government contracts • Corporations need fewer workers • Returning soldiers need jobs • Gains made by unions during war begin to erode • Immigrant labor needed during war now seen as undesirable

  3. 1919-20: General Strikes • Large strikes in Seattle, Boston, Pittsburgh and other places cripple manufacturers • Huge numbers of workers on strike concern business owners, but not enough for them to reform • Business owners were angry and fired workers sometimes because of strikes • Many resent unions for strikes and begin to blame union activism on “radicals” in the IWW and other organizations • Steel stops (with the war effort)

  4. “A simple remedy for insomnia for those who lie Awake worrying about being blown out of bed.” - Darling in the New York Tribune

  5. Anarchist Bomb Plots • In 1919, several failed bombings are directed at government officials and business tycoons • One attack is on the house of US Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer • Although only bomber is killed, Palmer’s house is destroyed and several people injured

  6. A. Mitchell Palmer • Presidential ambitions • Wanted to use “Red Hunting” to propel him to White House • As Attorney General, created the General Intelligence Division to apprehend and deport radicals • Headed by J. Edgar Hoover

  7. Palmer Raids • December 1919, 250 suspected radicals rounded up and deported • Including Emma Goldman • January 2, 1920, over 4,000 arrests made across the nation • Most are IWW members • Many held in secret locations and deported without trial

  8. Other Forms of Red Hunting • Vigilantism • American Legion formed in 1919 • “To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism” • State and local assemblies enacted seditions laws making it illegal to say anything “anti-American”

  9. Sacco & Vanzetti • Two Italian immigrant anarchists tried for murder during botched robbery • Trial a sham (although Sacco, at least, probably guilty) • Became a cause for anarchists • Executed in 1927 Bartolomeo Vanzetti Nicola Sacco

  10. Wall Street Bombing • September 16, 1920 • Horse & Buggy dynamite bomb • Over 30 killed, hundreds wounded • Note: “Remember we will not tolerate any longer. Free the political prisoners or it will be sure death for all of you.” • Crime never solved

  11. Red Scare Fizzles Out • Palmer predicts attempted Communist revolution on May 1, 1920 - never happens • Many critical of “excesses” of raids • Attacks on socialists viewed as unwarranted - even by Palmer • Unions power is mostly diminished • Americans want to think about other things

  12. Guided DBQ • Assessment Grade – 15 Points

  13. Current event • http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/11/28/nr-sullivan-tweet-brownback-intv.cnn • If you are afraid to say something political because you would get in trouble for it… would you even say it?

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