Similarities Between The Red Scare And Mccarthyism

Since the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, which established a Communist government in Russia, Americans viewed the Soviets as a threat to all capitalistic countries. The revolution left Americans and the government in fear of communism taking over. This view led to anti-Communist hysteria, also known as the Red Scare of 1919. Another anti-Communist movement came about in the 1940s and 50s. This Second Red Scare became known as McCarthyism due to Joseph McCarthy's actions during his campaign. Despite the Red Scare taking place in 1919, just two years after the revolution, and McCarthyism taking place in the 1950s, they have similarities and differences. One difference between the Red Scare and McCarthyism is that the Red Scare was a more general movement that targeted immigrants and labor unions. The anti-radical fears from the Red Scare fueled xenophobia which resulted in restrictions on immigration in the 1920s. From November 1919 to January 1920, over 6,000 people were arrested on limited evidence. Most of the arrested suspects were foreigners who were deported. On top of distrust of immigrants, the Red Scare targeted unions. Many Americans

In McCarthy’s speech in Wheeling, West Virginia, he mentions how there were communists throughout the government. He targeted those treated well by the Nation, such as the wealthy and white-collar workers. Attacking people born with silver spoons in their mouths, those who are born privileged, and claiming the ones in the government are Communists increases the amount of fear the Americans had that communism was spreading. Despite McCarthy’s accusations that these people were communists, he never provided evidence that supported his claim. McCarthy’s “witch hunt” for Communists, also known as McCarthyism, was a movement he used to make himself more powerful and to discredit the Truman