The+Red+Scare-CS



The wave of strikes that occurred in 1919 assisted to fuel the fears that the Communists were trying to start a revolution in the united states. American's were very surprised when the Communists seized power in Russia and when the worked out a separate peace agreement with Germany. Many Americans at this time viewed this act as more of a betrayal; America's hostility towards the communists increased. Because of these acts, the Communist name became known as a name for disloyalty and treachery.

The late 1800's were marked for when the American's started blaming immigrants for bringing in radical socialist and communist ideas and blamed them for labor unrest and violence. The upsets that were going down in Russia really justified the fears of a Communist revolution. The Soviet established the Communist International in 1919; it was an organization for coordinating Communist parties in other countries. The establishment of this organization was further proof of a growing threat in Russia.

The Communists were called "reds" and the strikes of 1919 fueled the idea that they might seize power. This led to the Red Scare, a nationwide panic about the Communist's seizing power over America. Many people were concerned about the workers using strikes to start a revolution. **Ole Hanson**, the mayor of Seattle, claimed that the Seattle general strike was part of an attempt to "take possession of our American government and try to duplicate the anarchy of Russia."