The Red Scare and Xenophobia

The Roaring 20’s

The Russian Revolution (1917-1918)

Before the Russian Revolution

• Prior to the Revolution, Russia was ruled by Czar Nicholas II (ruled 1894 - 1917)

• During his reign Russia was involved in two wars.

• Following World War I Russia had experience a massive loss of human life and territory – people were very angry and upset with the Czar

Before the Russian Revolution

• During World War I food supplies were low, unemployment and inflation were high in Russia

• Fed up with their circumstances workers, peasants, and soldiers joined together to overthrow the Czar

The Revolution

• Two Revolutions took place during 1917• During the March Revolution Czar Nicholas II is

forced to abdicate the throne– Abdicate = forced to give up one’s throne

• A provisional government is put in place– Provisional = temporary

Rise of the Bolsheviks

• With the provisional government in place, the Bolsheviks under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin take over the Russian government in the second revolution known as the October Revolution (1917) Bolsheviks = Communists

• Vladimir Lenin assumes power and establishes the Soviet Union– Also known as the Union of Soviet Socialist

Republics (USSR)

What is communism?

• Communism is an economic and political system

• The primary aim of communism is to establish a classless and stateless society

• Common ownership of public goods• Communism was a political theory developed

by Karl Marx in his book, The Communist Manifesto

How is communism not compatible with American

ideals of capitalism and democracy?

The First American Red Scare

• The First American Red Scare (1919-1920) occurred in America following a series of bombings aimed towards politicians and business leaders

• Following the Russian Revolution there was an ever growing fear of Bolshevism and anarchists in American society

Xenophobia

• Americans were afraid of a communist uprising

• People were frightened that immigrants arriving in American (particularly those from Russia) might start a communist revolution

• This fear towards immigrants becomes known as xenophobia