Fear of revoultion

Question 1

introduction

Answer 1

In 1917 russia experienced a communist revolution led by vladimir lenin where he had established communism in russia.

Americans became worried that “new immigrants” who were coming from eastern europe would spread communism and evoke a similar revolution to the one in russia, this became known as the red scare and began which was known as the palmer raids in 1920.

Question 2

analysis

Answer 2

This was important for changing attitudes to immigrants as those who were arrested were kept in appalling conditions, beaten up and forced to sign confessions- this suggests that fear of revolution was very important in an anti-immigrant stance.

Question 3

analysis +

Answer 3

However the majority of those who were arrested were eventually freed due to lack of evidence.

Question 4

evaluation

Answer 4

Palmers warning of a “May day” revolution turned out to be completely false leaving palmer humiliated. This shows that people had lost faith as they realised the threat of communism had been overly exaggerated

but perhaps instead prejudiced stereotypes built from immigrants coming from countries seen to be “revolutionary” that caused changes in attitudes thus proving that racism and prejudice is the most important factor for changing attitudes.