What was the red scare of 1919 and 1920?

The Red Scare of 1919-1920 was a period of intense fear and paranoia in the United States regarding the spread of communism and radical leftist ideologies following the Russian Revolution. This fear was exacerbated by labor strikes, social unrest, and the rise of anarchist and socialist movements. The U.S. government responded with widespread raids, arrests, and deportations, particularly targeting immigrants and suspected radicals, most notably in the Palmer Raids led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer. This era reflected a broader anxiety about national security and the influence of foreign ideologies in American society.