Communism In The United States: The Red Scare
Most people know America for its Jazz Age and 1920s prohibition. It is also popular for its robust economy before the recession that resulted in the Wall Street crash. Yet, this is not its darkest side. The communists dominated the Southern part of America and those who could not fit found that they were facing the law in its full force. As the cold war between the Soviets and Americans intensified, the Americans became hysterical about the supposed threats posed by communists in the United States. Those who supported communist beliefs and other non-American political beliefs became suspects for all kinds of misdemeanors. This dread of communism became identified as the Red Scare. The Americans believed that it was an attempt by the Soviet
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The communists had prepared themselves to fight a political war with the United States. Due to this, the politicians were doing everything within their ability to fuel concerns from the Americans. The politicians decided to use this matter as a means of persuasion since the scare took place as the country prepared for elections. Some Americans became radical and supported the communist efforts. Also, different governmental and political drivers fueled communism in the US and prosecuted those individuals that seemed to be a threat in the form of communism. One of the people who were instigating the fear was Joseph McCarthy, a Republican Senator from Wisconsin. McCarthyism endeavored to minimize communism by detaining individuals suspected to be disloyal or a security threat to the US (History.com Staff). Investigations ranged from the government, Hollywood, to the American public, and no one was safe since McCarthy played the role of the judge, jury, and …show more content…
It disrupted the lives of many suspected communist sympathizers. The law enforcers harassed these people, fired them from their jobs and alienated them from their friends and relatives. While some of the radicals may have been aspiring revolutionaries, most of the suspects were the victims of false allegations and had done nothing wrong other than exercise their democratic right to join a political party. Although the severe climate of the Red Scare began to ease in the 50s, the event has continued to inspire the American political debate in decades since. Political analysts use it as an example of how unfounded fears are likely to compromise civil liberties. The scare also took a toll on the constitutional rights. For instance, America deported hundreds of innocent people and fueled intolerance and nativism. Professional groups including the National Association of Manufacturer used the communism bait to keep unions out of factories (Faragher, John Mack et al. 274). The workers in these factories would work for excessive hours for little pay since no unions advocated for better working
The communists had prepared themselves to fight a political war with the United States. Due to this, the politicians were doing everything within their ability to fuel concerns from the Americans. The politicians decided to use this matter as a means of persuasion since the scare took place as the country prepared for elections. Some Americans became radical and supported the communist efforts. Also, different governmental and political drivers fueled communism in the US and prosecuted those individuals that seemed to be a threat in the form of communism. One of the people who were instigating the fear was Joseph McCarthy, a Republican Senator from Wisconsin. McCarthyism endeavored to minimize communism by detaining individuals suspected to be disloyal or a security threat to the US (History.com Staff). Investigations ranged from the government, Hollywood, to the American public, and no one was safe since McCarthy played the role of the judge, jury, and …show more content…
It disrupted the lives of many suspected communist sympathizers. The law enforcers harassed these people, fired them from their jobs and alienated them from their friends and relatives. While some of the radicals may have been aspiring revolutionaries, most of the suspects were the victims of false allegations and had done nothing wrong other than exercise their democratic right to join a political party. Although the severe climate of the Red Scare began to ease in the 50s, the event has continued to inspire the American political debate in decades since. Political analysts use it as an example of how unfounded fears are likely to compromise civil liberties. The scare also took a toll on the constitutional rights. For instance, America deported hundreds of innocent people and fueled intolerance and nativism. Professional groups including the National Association of Manufacturer used the communism bait to keep unions out of factories (Faragher, John Mack et al. 274). The workers in these factories would work for excessive hours for little pay since no unions advocated for better working