The Red Scare

Two political cartoons from the first Red Scare. One shows the destructive nature of Bolshevism and another relates immigration with the anarchist terrorists from the era.

Immediately after World War One, the Red Scare emerged in America. Fearing that communist ideals would take over the country, anarchists and communists known as 'reds' were singled out from 1917-1920, mainly during the 1919-1920 phase that followed after a series of anarchist bombings. The last attack took place on September 16, 1920 - A man named Mario Buda planted and detonated a bomb in Wall Street. He was part of a small anarchist cell that included Sacco and Vanzetti, which is a whole different topic entirely.


A picture of the aftermath of the September 16th Wall Street Bombing.

"Little has been achieved by the misguided terrorism except the retardation of the causes they professed to serve and the destruction of many innocent people. The men aimed at have usually escaped. Folk outside any controversy have been killed. The bomb thrown at a King has more often hit a workman. The mortality among terrorists themselves has been exceedingly large," (Chenery, 1).

The destructive nature of the unsuccessful, yet eye-catching anarchist terrorism in the 1920s led many to join the Red Scare, which was full of nativist, nationalist, and isolationalist fervor. The fear of the Reds bringing down America to bring in foreign systems was extended to immigration, as it was seen as an open gateway for terrorists to enter due to light restrictions. Due to pressure from the Red Scare, multiple acts were passed to limit European immigration, and yet even after the first the movement wasn't satisfied.

"Even before the Palmer Raids, most Americans had shown a distinct lack of interest in left-wing political extremism. The membership in communist (known as "Red" for the color of the Bolshevik flag) and anarchist groups remained extremely small," (Chenery, 1).

The radical left wasn't even apparent in the States, despite the terrorist bombings. The group was extremely small and they weren't necessarily a threat. Though the idea of Communism or Anarchism in America was concerning - rightfully so - to many Americans across the country, there were very few trying to push the United States into the left at this time. The worry was exaggerated and paranoid - Anxiety after the case of communist revolution in Russia.

To conclude - The first Red Scare was incited by paranoia and a string of anarchist bombings, case of Anxiety that resulted in intolerance towards a small group of Americans. It caused stricter regulation for immigrants coming into the country and was also anti-strike, considering unions and walk-outs as "Red" as anarchism and communism. The Palmer Raids were criticized as they arrested numerous with very little evidence, most purely due to their uncommon political views.

The first image shows an alleged relation between strikes, riots and bolshevism, ending in chaos. The second is critical of the Red Scare, showing Palmer seeing everyone as a Red.

This political cartoon describes to us the fear that foreign radicals would try to convert American laborers to the ideas of bolshevism.

Most political cartoons related to the Red Scare share one similarity across the board. They all show the Reds as bearded Slavic men, usually with thick eyebrows, a large and bushy beard, and scraggly hair. They also are usually shown with a "Red" flag.

Sources

Chenery, William L. "Red Record of Failure and of Innocent Victims." Terrorism: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 21-23. Student Resources in Context. Web. 1 Oct. 2015.

Palmer, A. Mitchell. "Excerpt from The Case Against the Reds." World War I and the Jazz Age. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 1999. American Journey. Student Resources in Context. Web. 1 Oct. 2015.

"Devastation on Wall Street." Terrorism: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 19-21. Student Resources in Context. Web. 1 Oct. 2015.