The First Red Scare Flashcards
What caused initial fear regarding communism and why did this fear worsen?
Russia had a mass scale revolution in 1917 by communists the first of which of its kind, a key aspect of the revolution was to spread communism abroad to liberate workers which terrified the American People especially when workers started to go on strike.
Why did workers begin to strike in 1919?
Workers in the US had accepted long hours, low wages and poor conditions throughout the war however, as conditions did not improve after the war many felt that strike was necessary.
How did the influence of left wing ideologies begin to spread?
The Communist Party of America was founded as well as the Communist Labor Party of America. Anarchists also distributed letters and pamphlets urging revolution.
How many strikes took place in 1919 and how many workers too part?
3’600 strikes too part in 1919 alone with one in every 4 workers on strike at once.
Give an example of a key strike in the US?
On the 21st of January 1919 35’000 shipyard workers went on strike in Seattle, this escalated further as on the 6th of February a General Strike with 60’000 members broke out.
What rumors spread surrounding the strikes?
Although police and strikers did not clash many people began to believe that a revolution had broken out which made national news. People began to accuse each other of communism and Red Hunting Broke out.
What was the reaction of the Mayor of Seattle and when was the Strike called off?
The mayor pledged to use the City Police force and if necessary Federal troops to break up the strike. On the 11th of February the strike is called off.
What happened on the 28th of April 1919?
The US post office discovers 36 bombs addressed to various state officials and the move is blamed on anarchists.
What happened on the 1st of May 1919?
Workers rallies are held across the country urging people to strike and campaign for better conditions, riots break out in several cities such as Boston and New York.
What happened on he 8th May 1919 in regards to anti communism?
The American Legion is founded made up of mainly veterans from the First World War, some members begin to engage in red hunting and by the end of the year it has over 1 million members.
What happened on the 2nd of June 1919?
Bombs explode in 8 major US cities most of which were targeted at government officials such as the new Attorney General Palmer.
What does Palmer set up in August 1919?
He sets up a new ‘Radical Division’ which sets out to find communist conspiracies as well as collecting the names of dangerous people.
What happened on the 9th of September 1919?
Bombs explode in various cities which were planted by so called red groups. The Boston police all go on strike and although little actual violence breaks out the media claims that mass rioting broke out. Governor of Massachusetts Calvin Coolidge sacks and appoints new police.
What happened on the 22nd of September 1919?
Steel workers in Pittsburgh go on strike which spreads rapidly and becomes a nationwide strike with violence breaking out in some areas between workers and local militia.
What occurs in January 1920?
The steelworkers strike ends with very little gain for the workers.
FBI carry out raids in 33 cities, somewhere between 5’000 to 10’000 ‘Communists’ are arrested.
