Red Scare: Incitement to Hatred of Anarchy and Communism

There were many political ideologies after the war which were both beneficial and destructive, some of which had the people paranoid. Ideas like communism and anarchy caused an event now known as the “Red Scare,” in which the government even got involved by stopping the influx of immigration into the country, mostly from Europe, due to the lack of trust the war created. During the twenties, people who opposed democracy were isolated and treated differently, even going as far as executing two men accused of murder with no basis or evidence. Issues that were previously not a concern resurfaced in the twenties, including racist ideologies, since it was not the focus during the war. As time went on after the war, various political ideas emerged in the U.S. due to immigration, racism, and poverty, offering a wide array of perspectives on political policies, social issues, and pop culture.

Fear of Red: Stirring Up Hostility Towards Anarchy and Communism

The Red Scare was a significant threat to political views since it led to the assassination of a president and the trial of two men who were most likely innocent. For example, Americans were particularly fearful of communists, especially after they overthrew the royal family in Russia in 1917 and murdered them the following year. In 1901, an anarchist had shot the American president dead. This event greatly impacted Americans since it demonstrated that not even the most important person in their country, the president, was safe. It instilled fear and further fueled the hatred for anarchy and communism. However, something positive emerged as this was the primary reason the Secret Service was created to prevent such events from occurring in the future. Furthermore, a series of bomb explosions in 1919, including a bungled attempt to blow up A. Mitchell Palmer, America’s Attorney-General, led to a campaign against communists. This further fueled the hatred, leading to a campaign against communists and resulting in the arrest of over 6,000 people using questionable methods. Many debated the legality of these arrests, but the judicial system seemed to ignore their protests. The legality was further questioned when two men, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, were arrested with no real evidence and charged with a robbery where two guards were killed. Both men were known anarchists, which led to a controversial trial resulting in their execution. The paranoia was justified because of the casualties, with anarchists killing the president and a failed attempt to kill the Attorney-General.

Social Changes and the Fear of Anarchy

Many social aspects of life changed, leading to a large number of strikes and accusations based on beliefs. For instance, the most frightening event was a strike by police in Boston, Massachusetts. The policemen demanded higher wages, but the police chief refused to negotiate with them. As a result, the policemen went on strike, and thieves began to break into unprotected homes and shops. This event truly defined the impact, as it has only happened once in history. People never expected the police to go on strike since they are the protectors, and it likely caused fear as it could be seen as a step toward anarchy with no law enforcement. Moreover, feelings of fear and suspicion extended to other parts of American life. Many individuals and groups were accused of supporting communism. The Red Scare caused many innocent people to be afraid to express their ideas, fearing accusations of being communists. There have been many instances where freedom of speech has been restricted, from John Adams to Abraham Lincoln, instilling fear in people to express an opinion. This was impactful because when most people think of the U.S., they think of freedom, but it was different in this era as paranoia led to wild accusations suppressing people's opinions. These events again changed social life, as the police strike created an anarchist-like environment in the U.S., and the accusations suppressed individuals' opinions.

Impact on Pop Culture

Even pop culture was affected, with many celebrities being accused and even followed by high-ranking spies. For example, “I am not now or at any time have ever been a member of the Communist Party,” so swore famed composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein on an affidavit. Still, the FBI was convinced he was a dangerous political subversive and spied on him for the next three decades, even getting him blacklisted at CBS and denying his request to renew his passport. Even famous artists were not safe, with the government trying to interfere in their lives by denying their entrance back to the U.S. Despite Bernstein denying his alliance with communism, the government pursued him and interfered with his passport. Similarly, Chaplin was banned from the U.S. Instead of fighting to re-enter the country, he released a statement about his experience: “Since the end of the last world war, I have been the object of lies and propaganda by powerful reactionary groups who, by their influence and by the aid of America's yellow press, have created an unhealthy atmosphere in which liberal-minded individuals can be singled out and persecuted. Under these conditions, I find it virtually impossible to continue my motion-picture work, and I have therefore given up my residence in the United States.” This event again shows the government's influence over pop culture, this time succeeding in expelling arguably one of the most famous actors of the era, prompting Chaplin to release a statement labeling the U.S. an “unhealthy environment” and expressing his disdain for the Red Scare. This significantly impacted people, as many were inspired by Chaplin, likely raising further fear but now aimed at celebrities with influence.

Conclusion

The twenties were not as entirely joyful as they seemed, despite the booming economy and increased social events after the war. It was also a time of paranoia, where people were accused left and right, causing a restriction of freedom of speech. It had a profound impact on political policies, social issues, and pop culture. The Red Scare significantly impacted people, with multiple assassination attempts adding fuel to the fire, leading to numerous protests against individuals with beliefs opposed to capitalism. The Red Scare also caused issues among the populace, with movements against communism and those suspected of aligning with communist beliefs. Celebrities were also affected, with many being monitored by the government under suspicion of communist ties, leading to the deportation of several. Overall, the Red Scare did not reflect well on America, as it was a hypocritical period for a country founded on the basis of freedom, yet it executed people and deported celebrities on the invalid grounds of suspicion.

References:

• Adams, J. (1798). Alien and Sedition Acts. U.S. Congress.
• Bernstein, L. (1950). FBI affidavit. Federal Bureau of Investigation Archives.
• Chaplin, C. (1947). Statement on U.S. ban. Charlie Chaplin Archives.
• Lincoln, A. (1861-1865). Presidential speeches and letters. National Archives.
• Palmer, A. M. (1919). Bombings and Red Scare. U.S. Department of Justice Records.
• Sacco, N., & Vanzetti, B. (1921). Trial records. Massachusetts Judicial Archives.