Immigrants and the Red Scare

Context (3)

From the end of the 19th Century, there had been an influx of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe

Many moved to urban areas such as New York

They were a cheap labour pool (previously provided by Irish immigrants who had intergrated more easily)

Bolshevik Revolution (3)

1917 - communist takeover of Russia

The Bolsheviks were brutally murdered (Russian Royal family)

Also seized American financial investments in Russia

Bolshevik Revolution - Consequences (2)

The USA and Britain felt betrayed by these action

Deeply suspicious of the threat of communism

Labour Union strikes (4)

General Strike - 1919 - Seattle Washington

Catalysed by wage griveances of shipyard workers in the citys prominent port

65,000 workers walked out for 5 days

Non violent but fueled the Red Scare

Red Summer (2)

July 1919

Racial attacks towards black veterans who were seen as “subverting their place in society”

Mail bombings (3)

1919 - sent by anarchists

36 mail bombs intercepted targeting affluent individuals eg. John D Rockefeller, JP Morgan

Headlines published conspiracies narrative - triggered Red Scare wave

What were mail bombings exarcerbated by?

Further riots in New York and Cleveland around labour-union supported May Day celebrations

What did mail bombings cause? (3)

Public opinion to call for action

Response led by Attonery General Palmer and coordinated by J Edgar Hoover

Coordinated intelligence from various sources to identify “radicals”

Palmer Raids (2)

Led by Attorney General Palmer

Saw 10,000 immigrants arrested and nearly 600 deported largely without reason

Communist support: exaggerated (2)

The extent of communist support was often exaggerated

Industrial unrest and Union action was over genuine issues rather than communist revolution

1921 Emergency Immigration Law (2)

Capped immigrants from European nations to just 3% of the number from 1911

Favoured Western Europeans (white anglo-saxon protestants)

Saccho and Vanzetti (3)

Two italian immigrants and anarchists

Falsely accused of arrmed robbery and murder in 1920

Despite little evidence, executed in 1927