The Red Scare: A Period of Paranoia and Fear
The red scare is a period of paranoia and fear that gripped the United States between 1947 and 1957. It was based on the fear that communists were hiding in plain sight, plotting to overthrow the American government.
The first red scare was a reaction to the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, which took place in 1917 and paved the way for communism to spread throughout the world. It was a time where people across the country were intensely patriotic, but it was also a time when anarchists and left-wing social agitators were increasing in popularity.
As a result of this, the US government began to respond to the issue through multiple forms of propaganda. This included articles in newspapers, political cartoons, and other forms of media that aimed to educate the public on the evils of communism. Another form of propaganda was to target people who were in the public eye. This was done through politicians and celebrities who were portrayed as being communists. This led to many people being arrested or blacklisted.
The Devastating Effects and Paranoia
In many cases, this hysteria caused people to lose their jobs or homes and ruined the lives of those who were targeted by the government. It also pushed the country further into an era of gossip and paranoia. It was a period of terror that not only ruined the lives of those who were caught, but it also pushed the country further into an abyss of censorship and anti-socialist paranoia. This led to an irrational fear that thousands of communist agents were hiding in plain sight, waiting to overthrow the American government.
Some of the most prominent names in the US were targeted during this hysteria including Lucille Ball and Charlie Chaplin. They were jailed for expressing their opinions or being accused of being communists. During this time, the government enacted laws that were designed to root out communists and other Communist-sympathizers. This helped to control public opinion and fight against the communist movement in the U.S.
This hysteria also sparked a movement of protest called the "Wobblies". This movement was made up of individuals who were opposed to the government and wanted better treatment. They had a very strong following. These individuals were a huge threat to the government, so the government started using them as a way to spread fear of communism and socialists. This was a tactic that worked well because it got people upset and allowed them to get their demands heard.
Causes of Fear: Wars and Threats to the Economy
The wars between countries during the early part of the 20th century were also a major cause for this fear of communism. These wars were very dangerous and it was necessary for the government to protect the citizens of the country. One of the main reasons for this fear was because communism was a threat to the American economy and its people. This was due to the fact that communism was a system of government which would lead to socialism. This meant that it was important for the government to keep these communists in check because they could ruin the economy and its people.
