Learning Target: Students will be able to define the Red Scare and explain what groups were targeted during the 1920’s as being “un-American” and why social unrest gripped the nation during the postwar era due to the rise of communism through analyzing political cartoons.

Skills: Students will be able to thoroughly analyze political cartoons and explain the persuasive devices used in political cartoons.

The year is 1919…We had just won WWIRenewed sense of nationalism and

patriotismBolsheviks/Communists had successfully

established communism in RussiaBavaria and Hungary had successful

communist uprisings too

Amidst this background a climate of fear and panic persists in the US…

What is the Red Scare?A nationwide wave of anti-communist

panic Provoked by the success of the

Bolshevik (Communist) Revolution in Russia in 1917and communist uprisings in Hungary and Bavaria (Germany).

Communism emphasized worldwide revolution

Why were we so afraid of communism in 1919-1920?

It emphasized world-wide revolution It may appeal to the working class in the

USMajority of peopleCommunism emphasis on equality may be

very appealing to the large working class in the US

What were the causes of the Red Scare?

Bolshevik Revolution success in Russia Patriotic feelings left over from WWI Communist uprisings in Hungary and Bavaria Two small communist parties formed in US in

1919 (never exceeded 70,000, just 1/10 of 1%of the adult population)

Strikes that took place in 1919-Seattle General Strike, Boston Police Strike, Steelworkers

What were the causes of the Red Scare?

The press portrayed all strikes and “un-American” and Bolshevistic

Hatred of Germans during WWI transferred onto any foreigner-seen as radical

Public official and business leaders portrayed strikers as “un-American”

What were the causes of the Red Scare

A. Mitchell Palmer directed the Red Scare June 2, 1919-8 bombs exploded in 8 cities in

US-one of the bombs in front of Palmer’s Palmer received $500,000 from Congress to

launch a campaign to tear out the radical seeds

J. Edgar Hoover was made the head of the Anti-Radical Division to gather info about domestic radical ideas

What are the effects of the Red Scare?

Palmer Raids-1919-Palmer’s men staged raids on the Union of Russian Workers in 12 cities

In December of 1919-249 Russians were deported on a ship called the “Soviet Arc”

January 1920-Palmer arrested 4,000 more people, many of the US citizens, in 33 major cities during a single night’s raid

What were the effects of the Red Scare?

The public, due mostly to the press, applauded Palmer’s methods

Deported 600 radicals-Violation of Civil Liberties

What were the groups targeted in the Red Scare?

Immigrants (any foreigner)Communists/Bolsheviks Labor Unions (Boston Police Strike,

Seattle General Strike, Steelworkers, Coal miners)

Suspected anarchist (Sacco and Vanzetti)

How did the press/media influence public opinion of the Red Scare?

They hyped up the fear and panic

They portrayed all strikes as Bolshevistic/Communistic and “un-American”

Does the Press/Media influence people’s opinion’s today?

Analyzing Political Cartoons following

WWII

Directions

Each group will be given a political cartoons to analyze In the letter space provided on your chart, fill in the proper

information Your group will then present the following information:

1. Who the cartoon is attacking

2. What message the author is communicating

3. The persuasive devices the author is using

Exit Slip

From yesterday’s and today’s lesson on the climate of fear that existed after WWI, list 3 groups that were being targeted as “un-American” and explain why.