Background to the Red Scare
The Red Scare is all about communists and anarchists taking over the government. The US began their paranoia when news broke out about Russia, and how communists had overthrown the royal family in Russia in 1917 and killing them.
In 1901, an anarchist shot the American president McKinley dead. In 1919, a bungled attempt to blow up A. Mitchell Palmer, America’s Attorney General, lead to a campaign against the communists. In 1920, over 6000 people were arrested and placed in prison. Many had to be released in a few weeks and only 3 guns were found out of the 6000 people that they arrested. Very few people outside of the 6000 arrested complained about the legality of these arrests such was the fear of communism. The judicial system seemed to turn a blind eye as America's national security was paramount.
In 1901, an anarchist shot the American president McKinley dead. In 1919, a bungled attempt to blow up A. Mitchell Palmer, America’s Attorney General, lead to a campaign against the communists. In 1920, over 6000 people were arrested and placed in prison. Many had to be released in a few weeks and only 3 guns were found out of the 6000 people that they arrested. Very few people outside of the 6000 arrested complained about the legality of these arrests such was the fear of communism. The judicial system seemed to turn a blind eye as America's national security was paramount.