Weiss Red Scare Quiz

What provoked the Red Scare?

The public’s association of labor violence with its fear of revolution.

Dilliusioned by war and peace what did American’s do in the 1920’s?

Denounced radical foreign ideas, condemn un American life styles, shun diplomatic commitments to foreign countries, and restrict immigration.

How did business people use the Red Scare?

To break the backs of labor unions.

A. Mitchell Palmer:

United States Attorney General who led raids against perceived Communists and Anarchists.

What did the Ku Klux Klan advocate for in the 1920’s?

Fundamentalist religion, opposition to birth control, repression of pacifists, and anti-Catholicism.

What did the Ku Klux Klan react against?

The forces of diversity and modernity that were transforming American culture. 

What causes immigrant restrictions in the 1920’s?

The nativist belief that northern Europeans were superior to south and eastern Europeans.

Immigration Act of 1924 imposed quotas against?

Nationality.

What group of people generally was impacted by the quota system in place?

Southern and Eastern Europeans. 

What did immigrant workers have to overcome in order to achieve class and political solidarity?

Ethnic Diversity

What were the two biggest concerns of the American people after WW1?

Joining the League of Nations and the Progressive Field

What was the result of America’s fear of all outsiders?

Nativism (prejudice against foreign born people).

What desire did most Americans have in connection to the rest of the world?

To pull away from world affairs and continue to practice of isolationism.

What was perceived as the greatest threat to the American way of life?

Communism.

Define communism:

An economic and political system based on a single party government ruled by a dictatorship, in order to equalize wealth and power.

Who was the communist leader of Russia, who were his followers, and what was their symbol?

Vladmir Lenin was followed by the Bolsheviks, their symbol was a red flag.

What was the “Red Scare”?

The fear of communism, socialism, or other so called extreme ideas that would grip the nation.

Who were the Anarchists?

People who believed that their should not be a government.

Explain the time period of the Red Scare.

Period where the government went after anyone who was believed to be a member of the communist party.

What did Palmer attempt to do in 1920? Was he successful?

He attempted to order arrests against people who were suspected to be a communist or an anarchist, and he was not successful. 

What was the result of the Red Scare?

People were overreacting to an exaggerated fear and it quickly subsided.

Who were Sacco and Vanzetti? What was the result of their trial? What did the case lead to?

Two Italian immigrants accused and convicted of armed robbery and murder. They were sentenced to death by electric chair. This led to mass protests across America and Europe. 

Three major strikes:

• The Boston Police Strike

• The Steel Mill Strike

• The Coal Miner’s Strike

Against whom was there an anti-immigrant attitude towards during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s?

Southern and Eastern Europeans.

What were immigrants willing to do that led to many Americans to dislike them?

Willing to work for low wages in the areas of unskilled labor

What paranoia shook the nation in connection to newly arriving immigrants?

They may be communist.

How many members of the KKK were there by 1924?

4.5 million white males.

Along with immigrants who else did the KKK have issues with?

Roman Catholics, Jews, and any foreign born person.

What did Klan members say about African Americans?

“Keep blacks in their place.”

What led to many Klan members to begin to look to recruit new members to their organization?

They were paid to recruit new members.

What led to the downfall of the KKK?

Their criminal activity.

What did congress issue to limit immigration?

A quota system. It established a maximum number of people who could enter from each country.

Who was the “Quota System” aimed to limit?

Cut sharply the Eastern Europeans, Catholics, Jews, and Japanese.