First Red Scare (1919-1920)
The main cause of the scare was due to hysteria caused by the Russian Revolution
and the communist agenda established by Vladimir Lenin.
The Russian Revolution sent shockwaves through the world and caused mass panic
in nations with monarchies or those nations who were capitalist/democratic.
Front cover of the Seattle Union Record in February 1919
During World War One, there were no strikes in any industries to allow for an
efficient amount of productivity, despite there being low wages and poor working
conditions.
Almost a year after the end of World War One and the Russian Revolution’s
message being spread further globally, the Communist Party of America (CPUSA)
was formed in September of 1919 with anarchists giving out leaflets to encourage a
revolution through the US.
Strikes started in early 1919, as 35,0000 dockyard workers went on strike in January
which eventually led to a general strike of 60,000 workers. More industries later went
on strike, such as in the steel industry who had to largest strikes of any industry.
As tensions grew and the threat of communism grew further, in April 1919 36 bombs
were found and were addressed to a number of state officials. Along with bombs
being found, 8 cities fell victim to bombings at officials’ offices which included
Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer.
In reaction to the bombings, Palmer established the Radical Division in August 1919
that aimed to seek out communist conspiracies and squish them. In November 1919,
authorities and the Radical Division raided the Union of Russian Workers in New
York and arrested 200. During the raid they uncovered a bomb factory.
The main cause of the scare was due to hysteria caused by the Russian Revolution
and the communist agenda established by Vladimir Lenin.
The Russian Revolution sent shockwaves through the world and caused mass panic
in nations with monarchies or those nations who were capitalist/democratic.
Front cover of the Seattle Union Record in February 1919
During World War One, there were no strikes in any industries to allow for an
efficient amount of productivity, despite there being low wages and poor working
conditions.
Almost a year after the end of World War One and the Russian Revolution’s
message being spread further globally, the Communist Party of America (CPUSA)
was formed in September of 1919 with anarchists giving out leaflets to encourage a
revolution through the US.
Strikes started in early 1919, as 35,0000 dockyard workers went on strike in January
which eventually led to a general strike of 60,000 workers. More industries later went
on strike, such as in the steel industry who had to largest strikes of any industry.
As tensions grew and the threat of communism grew further, in April 1919 36 bombs
were found and were addressed to a number of state officials. Along with bombs
being found, 8 cities fell victim to bombings at officials’ offices which included
Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer.
In reaction to the bombings, Palmer established the Radical Division in August 1919
that aimed to seek out communist conspiracies and squish them. In November 1919,
authorities and the Radical Division raided the Union of Russian Workers in New
York and arrested 200. During the raid they uncovered a bomb factory.
