History of Red Scare in Timeline
A Red Scare is a period of intense anti-communism and anti-socialism within a society, fueled by fear of left-wing ideologies. These periods often result in widespread political persecution, blacklisting, and the removal of individuals with perceived or actual connections to leftist movements from positions of power. The term originates from the red flag, a widely recognized symbol of communism and socialism. These scares frequently lead to the scapegoating of individuals and groups suspected of communist sympathies, impacting civil liberties and political discourse.
1914: World War I
In 1914, the beginning of World War I contributed to the intensely patriotic environment in the United States, exacerbating national, social, and political tensions.
1916: IWW-backed labor strikes
In 1916, The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), also known as the Wobblies, backed several labor strikes in various industries necessary for wartime activities.
June 1917: Espionage Act Passed
In June 1917, Congress passed the Espionage Act in response to World War I. The Wilson administration used this act to censor materials deemed to be urging treason, impacting 74 newspapers.
1917: Revolutions of 1917
In 1917, the Russian Revolution (specifically the October Revolution) and other Revolutions of 1917–1923 heightened social and political tensions in the United States, contributing to the Red Scare. The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), also known as the Wobblies, backed several labor strikes.
1917: Schenk v. United States
In 1917, the Supreme Court case Schenk v. United States introduced the clear-and-present-danger test, effectively deeming the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 constitutional.
November 1918: End of World War I
In November 1918, after World War I ended, worker strikes increased, leading the press to portray them as radical threats inspired by foreign agents.
1918: Sedition Act of 1918
In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson pressured Congress to legislate the anti-anarchist Sedition Act of 1918, which limited free speech by criminalizing language deemed disloyal to the United States government.
1918: Schenk v. United States
In 1918, the Supreme Court case Schenk v. United States introduced the clear-and-present-danger test, effectively deeming the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 constitutional.
1918: World War I
In 1918, the end of World War I contributed to the intensely patriotic environment in the United States, exacerbating national, social, and political tensions.
April 1919: Bomb Plot Discovered
In April 1919, authorities discovered a plot to mail 36 bombs to prominent members of the U.S. political and economic establishment.
June 2, 1919: Bombs Explode in Eight Cities
On June 2, 1919, eight bombs exploded simultaneously in eight cities, including at the house of U.S. Attorney General Palmer, leading to the Palmer Raids.
1919: "Criminal syndicalism" laws enacted
In 1919, several states enacted "criminal syndicalism" laws, outlawing advocacy of violence in effecting and securing social change. These laws led to aggressive police investigations, jailing, and deportation of suspected communists or left-wing individuals.
1919: Increase in Labor Strikes
In 1919, there was a significant increase in labor strikes with more than 3,600 separate strikes by workers, which the press depicted as radical threats inspired by foreign agents.
May 1920: Palmer's Revolution Warning
In May 1920, Palmer warned of a left-wing revolution on May Day, which did not occur, leading to ridicule and a loss of credibility.
July 1920: Palmer's Presidential Bid Fails
In July 1920, Palmer's once-promising Democratic Party bid for the U.S. presidency failed.
September 16, 1920: Wall Street Bombing
On September 16, 1920, Wall Street was bombed near Federal Hall National Memorial and the JP Morgan Bank, resulting in 38 deaths and 141 injuries. No individuals were indicted for the bombing.
1923: Revolutions of 1917-1923
In 1923, The Revolutions of 1917-1923 heightened social and political tensions in the United States, contributing to the Red Scare.
August 23, 1939: Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
On August 23, 1939, The Soviet Union signed the non-aggression Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany, leading to negative attitudes towards communists in the United States.
1939: CPUSA Membership
By 1939, the CPUSA had about 50,000 members, indicating the growing appeal of communism as an economic ideology.
1939: Start of World War II
In 1939, the start of World War II preceded the second Red Scare, also known as McCarthyism, which was further fueled by Cold War tensions.
August 1940: Trotsky's Assassination
In August 1940, after NKVD agent Ramón Mercader killed Trotsky with an ice axe, Browder perpetuated Moscow's fiction that the killer, who had been dating one of Trotsky's secretaries, was a disillusioned follower.
1940: Espionage activities began
From 1940 through 1980, intelligence gathering, outright spying, and policy influencing, by Americans on behalf of the Soviet Union, took place.
1940: Alien Registration Act (Smith Act)
In 1940, the U.S. Congress legislated the Alien Registration Act (also known as the Smith Act), making it a crime to advocate the overthrow of the government and requiring federal registration of all foreign nationals.
June 22, 1941: Germany Attacks the Soviet Union
On June 22, 1941, after Hitler broke the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact by attacking the Soviet Union, the CPUSA changed its policy to support the U.S. war effort against the Axis Powers.
1945: End of World War II
In 1945, the end of World War II preceded the second Red Scare, also known as McCarthyism, which was further fueled by Cold War tensions.
1945: Iron Curtain Around Eastern Europe
In 1945, the establishment of the Iron Curtain around Eastern Europe influenced popular opinion about U.S. national security, contributing to the fear of communism.
1946: Kellock–Taschereau Commission Investigates Espionage
In 1946, the Kellock–Taschereau Commission in Canada investigated espionage after top-secret documents concerning RDX, radar, and other weapons were handed over to the Soviets by a domestic spy-ring.
March 1947: Truman's Executive Order 9835
In March 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9835, which created the "Federal Employees Loyalty Program". This established political-loyalty review boards to determine the "Americanism" of federal employees, requiring all federal employees to take an oath of loyalty to the United States government. This order led to dismissals and resignations and served as a template for state loyalty acts.
1948: Berlin Blockade
In 1948, The Berlin Blockade increased and widespread fear of communist espionage.
1949: Establishment of the People's Republic of China
In 1949, The formal establishment of the People's Republic of China meant that Asian Americans, especially those of Chinese or Korean descent, came under increasing suspicion by both American civilians and government officials of being Communist sympathizers.
1949: Chinese Communists Win Civil War
In 1949, anti-communist fear was aggravated by the Chinese Communists winning the Chinese Civil War against the Western-sponsored Kuomintang, their founding of Communist China.
1949: Soviet Union's First Nuclear Weapon Test
In 1949, the Soviet Union's first nuclear weapon test (RDS-1) influenced popular opinion about U.S. national security, contributing to the fear that the Soviet Union would drop nuclear bombs on the United States.
December 1950: Chinese Intervention in Korean War
In December 1950, Chinese intervention in the Korean War against U.S. ally South Korea aggravated anti-communist fear.
1950: Truman's criticism of McCarthy
In 1950, President Harry Truman called Joseph McCarthy "the greatest asset the Kremlin has." This highlights the controversy surrounding McCarthy's tactics and their perceived impact on genuine anti-communist efforts.
1950: McCarthy's Senate Accusations
In 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy addressed the senate and made accusations against suspected communists. He cited 81 separate cases, prompting the Senate to call for a full investigation despite little evidence.
1950: McCarran Internal Security Act
In 1950, Senator Pat McCarran introduced the McCarran Internal Security Act. It restricted civil liberties in the name of security. President Truman vetoed the act, calling it a "mockery of the Bill of Rights," but Congress overrode his veto. Much of the bill eventually was repealed.
1950: Korean War Begins
In 1950, the beginning of the Korean War increased suspicion towards Asian Americans, especially those of Chinese or Korean descent, as potential Communist sympathizers. Simultaneously, the China Aid Act of 1950 gave assistance to Chinese students who wished to settle in the United States.
1952: Release of "My Son John"
In 1952, the film "My Son John", was released. It depicts a parents' suspicion that their son is a spy. Also, the Cincinnati Reds temporarily renamed themselves the "Cincinnati Redlegs" to avoid connotations with communists.
1953: Refugee Relief Act of 1953
In 1953, the Refugee Relief Act gave significant assistance to Chinese students who wished to settle in the United States, while, at the same time, Chinese immigrants continued to face suspicion of their allegiance.
1953: Korean War
In 1953, the end of Korean War influenced anti-communist fear.
1953: Trial of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
In 1953, the trial of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg influenced popular opinion about U.S. national security, contributing to the fear of communism.
1954: Communist Control Act of 1954
In 1954, Congress passed the Communist Control Act of 1954. It prevented members of the communist party in America from holding office in labor unions and other labor organizations.
1954: Army-McCarthy Hearings and McCarthy's censure
In 1954, Senator Joseph McCarthy lost credibility after accusing the army. The Army-McCarthy Hearings were held in the summer of 1954, and he was formally censured by his colleagues in Congress. This led to a diminishment of his political standing and the tension surrounding a possible communist takeover.
1955: Supreme Court Restrictions on Anti-Communist Policies
From 1955, the Supreme Court made decisions restricting the government's enforcement of anti-communist policies, including limiting the federal loyalty program.
1957: Yates v. United States
In 1957, the Supreme Court case Yates v. United States limited Congress's ability to circumvent the First Amendment.
1959: Supreme Court Restrictions on Anti-Communist Policies
Through 1959, the Supreme Court made decisions restricting the ways in which the government could enforce its anti-communist policies, some of which included allowing defendants to face their accusers.
1961: Scales v. United States
In 1961, the Supreme Court case Scales v. United States limited Congress's ability to circumvent the First Amendment.
1967: United States v. Robel
In 1967, during the Supreme Court case United States v. Robel, the Supreme Court ruled that a ban on communists in the defense industry was unconstitutional.
1980: Espionage activities continued
From 1940 through 1980, intelligence gathering, outright spying, and policy influencing, by Americans on behalf of the Soviet Union, took place.
1991: End of Iron Curtain Around Eastern Europe
In 1991, the end of Iron Curtain Around Eastern Europe ended influenced popular opinion about U.S. national security, contributing to the decline fear of communism.
1995: Declassification of Venona Project Details
In 1995, the American government declassified details of the Venona Project, following the Moynihan Commission, which provided validation of intelligence gathering and spying by Americans on behalf of the Soviet Union. Over 300 American communists were found to have engaged in espionage.
2000: Chinese Espionage Incidents
Between 2000 and 2023, there were 224 reported instances of Chinese espionage directed at the United States.
March 25, 2019: Establishment of Committee on the Present Danger: China
On March 25, 2019, the fourth iteration of the Committee on the Present Danger was established, branding itself Committee on the Present Danger: China (CPDC). The CPDC has been criticized as promoting a revival of Red Scare politics in the United States.
2023: Chinese Espionage Incidents
Between 2000 and 2023, there were 224 reported instances of Chinese espionage directed at the United States.
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