The Red Scare and Xenophobia
The Roaring 20’s
Before the Russian Revolution
• During World War I food supplies were low,
unemployment and inflation were high in
Russia
• Fed up with their circumstances workers,
peasants, and soldiers joined together to
overthrow the Czar
The Revolution
• Two Revolutions took place during 1917
• During the March Revolution Czar Nicholas II
is forced to abdicate the throne
– Abdicate = forced to give up one’s throne
• A provisional government is put in place
– Provisional = temporary
Rise of the Bolsheviks
• With the provisional government in place, the
Bolsheviks under the leadership of Vladimir
Lenin take over the Russian government in the
second revolution known as the October
Revolution (1917) Bolsheviks = Communists
• Vladimir Lenin assumes power and establishes
the Soviet Union
– Also known as the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics (USSR)
What is communism?
• Communism is an economic and political
system
• The primary aim of communism is to establish
a classless and stateless society
• Common ownership of public goods
• Communism was a political theory developed
by Karl Marx in his book, The Communist
Manifesto
How is communism not
compatible with American
ideals of capitalism and
democracy?
The First American Red Scare
• The First American Red Scare (1919-1920)
occurred in America following a series of
bombings aimed towards politicians and
business leaders
• Following the Russian Revolution there was an
ever growing fear of Bolshevism and
anarchists in American society
Xenophobia
• Americans were afraid of a communist
uprising
• People were frightened that immigrants
arriving in American (particularly those from
Russia) might start a communist revolution
• This fear towards immigrants becomes known
as xenophobia