Red Scare
Definition
The Red Scare refers to the fear of communism that permeated American politics, culture, and society from the late 1940s through the 1950s, during the opening phases of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
Analogy
Think of it like a viral trend on social media. Just as people become obsessed and paranoid about missing out or being left behind when a new trend hits, Americans were similarly consumed by fear and paranoia about communism infiltrating their country during the Red Scare.
Related terms
McCarthyism: This term refers to Senator Joseph McCarthy's aggressive campaign against alleged communists in U.S government and other institutions carried out under his leadership in the Senate, resulting in a widespread climate of fear and repression.
Cold War: A period of geopolitical tension between powers in the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and its satellite states) and powers in the Western Bloc (the United States, its NATO allies and others) after World War II.
Containment Policy: A strategic foreign policy pursued by the United States beginning in the late 1940s in order to check the expansionist policy of the Soviet Union.
"Red Scare" appears in:
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Practice Questions (17)
What was the name of the lawyer who defended several high-profile targets of the Red Scare, including the Hollywood Ten and Ethel and Julius Rosenberg?
Which of the following individuals was NOT accused of being a communist or communist sympathizer during the Red Scare?
Which of the following was NOT a tactic used by Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Red Scare?
Which of the following groups was targeted by the Red Scare in the aftermath of World War I?
The Red Scare of the 1920s was characterized by:
Who was the Attorney General during the Red Scare of the 1920s?
What common thread ties together the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, the Red Scare of the 1950s, and the post-9/11 fear of terrorism?
What was the primary cause of the Red Scare in America during the 1920s?
How might the Red Scare of the 1920s have evolved had the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia failed?
What triggered the first "Red Scare" in the United States during 1919-1920?
Which technology had a significant impact on spreading fears during the Red Scare?
Who was a prominent figure accused in both periods of the Red Scare but ultimately cleared their name?
What technological advancement played a crucial role in propagating ideologies during both periods of the Red Scare?
How did government actions during the Red Scare reflect continuity in terms of restricting civil liberties?
Which cultural trend showed persistence throughout the duration of both major instances of the Red Scare?
What might have been a possible outcome if the U.S. government had not implemented strict immigration restrictions during the Red Scare?
How might US foreign policy during Cold War differ if Senator McCarthy had not led his infamous "Red Scare" witch hunts?
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