Identify the role the following individuals played in the red scare of 1919–1920.

Identify the role the following individuals played in the red scare of 1919–1920.

Identify the role the following individuals played in the red scare of 1919–1920.

  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Geography & Travel
  • Health & Medicine
  • Lifestyles & Social Issues
  • Literature
  • Philosophy & Religion
  • Politics, Law & Government
  • Science
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Technology
  • Visual Arts
  • World History
  • On This Day in History
  • Quizzes
  • Podcasts
  • Dictionary
  • Biographies
  • Summaries
  • Top Questions
  • Week In Review
  • Infographics
  • Demystified
  • Lists
  • #WTFact
  • Companions
  • Image Galleries
  • Spotlight
  • The Forum
  • One Good Fact
  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Geography & Travel
  • Health & Medicine
  • Lifestyles & Social Issues
  • Literature
  • Philosophy & Religion
  • Politics, Law & Government
  • Science
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Technology
  • Visual Arts
  • World History
  • Britannica Classics
    Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia Britannica’s archives.
  • Demystified Videos
    In Demystified, Britannica has all the answers to your burning questions.
  • #WTFact Videos
    In #WTFact Britannica shares some of the most bizarre facts we can find.
  • This Time in History
    In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history.
  • Britannica Explains
    In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions.
  • Student Portal
    Britannica is the ultimate student resource for key school subjects like history, government, literature, and more.
  • COVID-19 Portal
    While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.
  • 100 Women
    Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians.
  • Britannica Beyond
    We’ve created a new place where questions are at the center of learning. Go ahead. Ask. We won’t mind.
  • Saving Earth
    Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century. Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them!
  • SpaceNext50
    Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!


Red Scare (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

The term Red Scare is used to describe periods of extreme anti-communism in the United States. "Red" comes from the color of the Soviet Union flag. "Scare" comes from the fact that many people were scared that communism would come to the United States.

There were two Red Scare periods. The first occurred after World War I and the Russian Revolution. The second occurred during the Cold War after World War II.

First Red Scare

Communism first became a major system of government in Russia after the Russian Revolution in 1917. The Bolshevik Party that led the revolution was led by Marxist Vladimir Lenin. They overthrew the current government and murdered the royal family. Under communism private ownership was taken away and people were not allowed to openly practice their religion. This type of government rule struck fear in the hearts of many Americans.

The first Red Scare occurred from 1919 to 1920. When workers began to strike, many people blamed communism. A number of people were arrested just because they were thought to have communist beliefs. The government even deported people under the Sedition Act of 1918.

Second Red Scare

The second Red Scare occurred during the start of the Cold War with the Soviet Union after the end of World War II. It lasted around ten years from 1947 to 1957.

With the spread of communism in Eastern Europe and China as well as the Korean War, people were scared that communism could infiltrate the United States. Also, the Soviet Union had become a world superpower and had nuclear bombs. People were scared of anyone who may side with the communists and help the Soviets get secret information about the United States.

The Government

The US government was heavily involved in the Red Scare. One of the main crusaders against communism was Senator Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy was determined to out communists. However, he used intimidation and gossip to get information. He often had little evidence when he accused people of working for the Soviet Union. He ruined many people's careers and lives before other leaders in the Congress put an end to his ways.

Identify the role the following individuals played in the red scare of 1919–1920.

Senator Joseph McCarthy
Source: United Press


The FBI, led by strident anti-communist J. Edgar Hoover, also got involved. They used wiretaps and spied on suspected communists giving the information to McCarthy and other anti-communist leaders.

Also involved in the Red Scare was the House Committee on Un-American Activities. This was a standing committee in the House of Representatives. One area they investigated was Hollywood. They accused some Hollywood executives, screenwriters, and directors of being pro-communist. They wanted the Soviet Union to be portrayed as the enemy in movies and entertainment. Rumor had it that a Blacklist was made of anyone suspected of being associated with the American Communist Party. These people were not hired for work during the Red Scare.

Facts About the Red Scare

  • McCarthyism is used today in a broader sense than just the Red Scare. It is used to describe accusations of treason or disloyalty without producing evidence.
  • The Cincinnati Reds baseball team changed their name to the "Redlegs" during the scare so their name wouldn't be associated with communism.
  • The trials and investigations weren't all bad. They did uncover a number of actual Soviet spies in the Federal government.
Activities
  • Take a ten question quiz about this page.

  • Listen to a recorded reading of this page:

To learn more about the Cold War:

Back to the Cold War summary page.

Works Cited

Back to History for Kids

Who was involved in the Red Scare 1920?

First Red Scare.

Who was involved in the Red Scare?

Senator Joseph R. McCarthy was a little-known junior senator from Wisconsin until February 1950 when he claimed to possess a list of 205 card-carrying Communists employed in the U.S. Department of State.

What contributed to the Red Scare of 1919 1920 in the US?

Causes of the Red Scare The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, which led many to fear that immigrants, particularly from Russia, southern Europe, and eastern Europe, intended to overthrow the United States government; The end of World War I, which caused production needs to decline and unemployment to rise.

What role did Sacco and Vanzetti play in the Red Scare?

Sacco, a shoe worker, and Vanzetti, a fish vendor, personified the targets of the Red Scare: immigrants and radicals. In addition, both had avoided the draft during the war and had firearms and anarchist pamphlets in their possession when arrested.