Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: The Postwar Red Scare
[Free Registration/Login Required] Read about the Red Scare at the end of World War I where people were fraudulently charged with being anti-American. See how thousands of names of supposed Communists were collected.
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College: Mc Carthyism: Senator Joe Mc Carthy and the Red Scare
This site explains who Joe McCarthy was and the emergence and progression of McCarthyism in the United States.
Digital History
Digital History: The Postwar Red Scare
Presents factual information on the history of the Red Scare that caused hysteria and panic in the United States after World War I.
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Postwar Blues and Reds
This tutorial looks at post-World War I America and the disturbing events that took place in 1919 and 1920, for example, racial discrimination, the KKK, backlash against immigrants, the Red Scare, etc. A PDF file of the tutorial is...
OpenStax
Open Stax: The Great War 1914 1919: Demobilization and Its Difficult Aftermath
Looks at the demobilization of the American war effort and the impact it had on people's lives, accompanied by the flu pandemic and fears of contagion, race riots, and the Red Scare. Also looks at the 1920 presidential election which was...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Red Scare
A dark side to the Jazz Age was the increase in the fear of Communism. Read about the federal government's actions to stem anything that was thought to threaten American security.
Digital History
Digital History: The Second Red Scare
Senator Joseph McCarthy did not create the national obsession with communist subversion. It had arisen in the late 1930s, years before McCarthy had come to public notice. Angry that they had been barred from the corridors of power for 20...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Huac and Hollywood
This video and support materials detail the Hollywood blacklist and House Un-American Activities Committee, chronicling the fear of Communism and resulting blacklist based on political ideology. The video is from the American Masters...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: The First Red Scare
Comprehensive overview presents facts and information pertaining to the Red Scare of communists and anarchists following WWI.
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College: Mc Carthyism: Background to the Red Scare
A brief description of the fears Americans had of the spread of Communism in Asia during the Cold War.
George Mason University
George Mason University: Between the Wars: Fear of Dissent
An article, "The Case Against the 'Reds'" written by A. Mitchell Palmer, supporting the Palmer Raids as a method to fight Bolshevism in the United States.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Red Scare America
Describes the events that took place during the McCarthy Era and actions of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Ordinary Americans feared being identified as a Communist sympathizer and libraries removed books from their shelves...
George Mason University
Chnm: The Buford Deportation
Anarchist Emma Goldman's graphic recollection of being deported from the United States during the red scare.
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania: The Hollywood Blacklist
This site describes what went on in Hollywood during the Red Scare of the 1950s when many actors and directors were asked to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee about possible communist activity in Hollywood.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller
In +J1105:J1113this allegorical drama, inspired by the witch hunt trials of 1692-93 and the 1950s Red Scare, the town of Salem is plagued by hysteria and accusations of witchcraft. Selected (9) reading passages (grades 8-12) to pair with...
Ducksters
Ducksters: The Cold War for Kids: Red Scare
Kids learn the history of the Red Scare during the Cold War. A fear of communism caused black lists and accusations led by Senator Joseph McCarthy.
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: Trial of Sacco and Vanzetti
Comprehensive site that provides the trial transcript and summary of evidence, as well as a chronology, biographies of trial participants, and information of the Red Scare.
George Mason University
George Mason University: Between the Wars: The Palmer Raids
Looks at the anti-communist 'Red Scare' that followed WWI with the upheaval of the Russian government, and includes Palmer's essay "The Case Against the Reds" and Emma Goldman's account of her deportation back to Russia.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: Anticommunism in the 1950s
Learn about the Rosenberg trial, HUAC, and Joseph McCarthy.
Digital History
Digital History: Anti Communism During the Early 1950's
In February 1950, Senator Joseph R. McCarthy had charged that the Department of State knowingly harbored Communists. Hearings on McCarthy's accusations were held under the chairmanship of Senator Millard Tydings of Maryland. The...
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Anti Communism in the 1950s
[Free Registration/Login Required] An essay tracing the anti-Communist hysteria beginning in earnest at the end of World War II that resulted in Truman's federal Loyalty Security program and ending with McCarthyism in the 1950s.
American Rhetoric
American Rhetoric: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn: Statement at the Smith Act Trial
This is the text of the testimony of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a member of the USA Communist Party, who spoke in her own defense at her trial for being a Communist on April 24 1952, in New York.
George Mason University
Chnm: The Most Brainiest Man
A fascinating article about how a conversation about Lenin led to the conviction and six-month jail sentence for Joseph Yenowsky. Excellent article shows the extreme fear of Reds and communism in the 1920's.