The Red Scare and Xenophobia
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Transcript of The Red Scare and Xenophobia
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