Red Scare of 1919
Definition
The Red Scare of 1919 was a widespread fear of communism in the United States following the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. It led to increased suspicion and persecution of perceived radicals and socialists.
Analogy
Think about when a rumor spreads through your school that there's going to be a pop quiz. Everyone starts panicking, studying like crazy, and accusing each other of starting the rumor. That's kind of what happened during the Red Scare, but instead of a pop quiz, people were afraid of communism taking over.
Related terms
Bolshevik Revolution: This was an uprising in Russia in 1917 that led to the establishment of a communist government.
McCarthyism: A period during the early Cold War where Senator Joseph McCarthy accused many Americans, often without proper evidence, of being communists or communist sympathizers.
Communism: A political theory derived from Karl Marx advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
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