Red Scare

The Red Scare after World War I was a period when many Americans feared communism and anarchism might spread to the United States. This fear grew due to the Russian Revolution in 1917, which led to the formation of a communist government in Russia. Americans worried that similar ideas could take hold in the U.S., threatening democracy and capitalism. This fear resulted in actions like the Palmer Raids, where suspected radicals were arrested and sometimes deported. Today, similar fears can be seen in debates over cybersecurity and foreign influence, where concerns about other countries' political systems affecting our own can cause tension and mistrust.