The Palmer Raids Why did Palmer arrest thousands of people and deport hundreds between 1919-1920?

Communism and socialism Why does the US have a long history of opposition to socialist ideas? Communism is a theory. One day all people/workers will own all the ways of making money – all the land, all the machines, all the stores NO private businesses and no way for one period to become rich Socialism is “on the way to communism” – government could own some businesses and public services (like healthcare, banks, etc) The US has fear of communism and suppression of socialist ideas because the ideas of communism and socialism threaten the individual’s right to private wealth

In the early 1900s, many people in US believed in socialism. Industrialism = huge gap between rich and poor Labor unions – not all were socialist, but some were – wanted all workers to unite 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia – established communist country – fear of spread Attorney General Mitchel Palmer and the Prosecution of Communism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nOzlo8gSlQ

Document a Doc A: “The Case Against the Reds” – Attorney General Mitchell Palmer …”It was eating its way into the homes of the American workmen,… leaping into schools, crawling into the sacred corners of American homes, burning up the foundations of society.” …”the purpose of communism appears to be a mass organization of criminals of the world to overthrow the decencies of private life…” “…no alien…shall escape arrest and prompt deportation.”

Document b Doc B: Emma Goldman Deportation Statement – Emma Goldman “…nothing less than a revival of the ancient days of the Spanish Inquisition or Czarist Russia (when anyone who disagreed with the government was deported or killed). “…The object of the deportations and of the anti- anarchist law is to stifle the voice of the people…” “…Their goal is to exile and banish every one who does not agree with the lies that our leaders of industry continue to spread.”

Corroboration… Use evidence from the two documents to answer the question: Why did Palmer arrest thousands of people and deport hundreds between 1919-1920?