The Red Scare in 1920s America was a time of heightened fear and suspicion of communist and socialist ideologies. This was fueled by events such as the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and a series of bombings in the US by anarchist groups. The Red Scare had significant impacts on American society, politics, and economy.
Thesis: The Red Scare had a negative impact on 1920s America as it resulted in widespread fear, discrimination, and restriction of civil liberties.
Body Paragraph 1: Political Developments
The Red Scare caused a political shift in the US as the government, in an attempt to combat the perceived threat of communism, passed several laws that restricted civil liberties. One example is the Sedition Act of 1918, which made it a crime to criticize the government. "The Sedition Act of 1918…made it a federal crime to use disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the government, the flag, or the armed forces," (MTSU). This law was used to suppress dissent and prosecute those who opposed the government's policies. This had a negative impact on political discourse in America, as people were afraid to voice their opinions for fear of persecution.
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This fear was fueled by the propaganda that was disseminated by the government, which portrayed communists as a dangerous and subversive group. "Anti-communist propaganda during the Red Scare contributed to the widespread fear of Bolshevism and fueled the Red Scare," (UMKC). This fear resulted in discrimination against those who were suspected of being communists, including immigrants and workers. This had a negative impact on American society as it created divisions and mistrust among different