Final answer:
The Red Scare was caused by revolutionary rhetoric from Russia, discovery of letter bombs, and bombings in 1919. Its effects included paranoia and distrust of foreigners, the unconstitutional Palmer Raids, and the formation of the ACLU to defend civil liberties.
Step-by-step explanation:
Causes of the Red Scare
The Red Scare was fuelled by several causes:
- Revolutionary Rhetoric from Bolshevik Russia created fear of a similar uprising in the United States, leading to a mistrust of communist ideologies.
- The discovery of letter bombs in 1919 addressed to public officials and business leaders, such as John D. Rockefeller, incited panic over potential violent actions by radicals.
- Simultaneous bombings on June 2, 1919, including one at the home of U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, heightened the perception that radical political groups posed a real threat to national security.
Effects of the Red Scare
The aftermath of the Red Scare resulted in several key effects:
Widespread paranoia and fear led to a general distrust of foreigners and those who espoused leftist ideologies, such as socialism and anarchism.
- The Palmer Raids, authorized by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, targeted immigrants, radicals, and labor unions. Many individuals were arrested or deported without due process, violating individual rights.
- The establishment of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in 1920 aimed to defend those targeted during the Red Scare, reflecting the public's disagreement with the government's disregard for civil liberties.