Palmer Raids
In 1919, two bombing plots were discovered and added to the rise of animosity in
the first Red Scare.4 These plots involved political and economic leaders
such as Rockefeller, Mitchell Palmer, and J.P. Morgan.4 Although they were
targeted for different reasons, these bombing all had the same effect which was
intensifying the Red Scare. The bombing of Alexander Mitchell Palmer’s house was
the most influential and contributed to the conviction of suspected communists
the most.3 The 38 bombs that were sent to political leaders homes had
clarified his suspicion of communist’s agents plotting to over throw the
American government.3 As a result of the mass bombing, he passed acts such as
the Espionage Act and Sedition Act, which both acted to spot out radicals and
boost suspicion of communist in America.3 The Espionage Act made it a crime
to interfere with the recruiting of troops and to disclose national defense
information.1 The Sedition Act “made it a crime to criticize by speech or
writing the government or Constitution”.3 In addition, Palmer
arrested 16,000 suspected communists and anarchist without trial within the
following two years.3 As a result of these raids, fear and animosity increased
between average citizens. Famous pacifist, Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to
prison, under the Espionage Law, for 10 years as a result of giving an antiwar
speech about World War I.5 However, his positive image and personality pushed
citizens to realize the injustice of the law and was let out early.5
During his time in prison however, Palmer’s opponents began accusing him of
using his raids and the Red Scare to gain more votes and be more easily elected
in office.1 This lost him the election. Although the Palmer Raids were stopped,
the effects of the raids lasted. The fear of communist agents in America stayed
with citizens and put immigrants in harsh lighting. Not only were average
American citizens affected, but also political and economical leaders. Mitchell
Palmer's negative acts against American people whom he suspected to be communist
decreased the trust the citizens had in our political and economic leaders.
In 1919, two bombing plots were discovered and added to the rise of animosity in
the first Red Scare.4 These plots involved political and economic leaders
such as Rockefeller, Mitchell Palmer, and J.P. Morgan.4 Although they were
targeted for different reasons, these bombing all had the same effect which was
intensifying the Red Scare. The bombing of Alexander Mitchell Palmer’s house was
the most influential and contributed to the conviction of suspected communists
the most.3 The 38 bombs that were sent to political leaders homes had
clarified his suspicion of communist’s agents plotting to over throw the
American government.3 As a result of the mass bombing, he passed acts such as
the Espionage Act and Sedition Act, which both acted to spot out radicals and
boost suspicion of communist in America.3 The Espionage Act made it a crime
to interfere with the recruiting of troops and to disclose national defense
information.1 The Sedition Act “made it a crime to criticize by speech or
writing the government or Constitution”.3 In addition, Palmer
arrested 16,000 suspected communists and anarchist without trial within the
following two years.3 As a result of these raids, fear and animosity increased
between average citizens. Famous pacifist, Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to
prison, under the Espionage Law, for 10 years as a result of giving an antiwar
speech about World War I.5 However, his positive image and personality pushed
citizens to realize the injustice of the law and was let out early.5
During his time in prison however, Palmer’s opponents began accusing him of
using his raids and the Red Scare to gain more votes and be more easily elected
in office.1 This lost him the election. Although the Palmer Raids were stopped,
the effects of the raids lasted. The fear of communist agents in America stayed
with citizens and put immigrants in harsh lighting. Not only were average
American citizens affected, but also political and economical leaders. Mitchell
Palmer's negative acts against American people whom he suspected to be communist
decreased the trust the citizens had in our political and economic leaders.
John D. Rockefeller
Out of the same thirty-six bombs, one of which struck Palmer's home, John D. Rockefeller was also targeted. John D. Rockefeller was an Entrepreneur who thrived in the oil industry.2 He dominated the oil industry and at one point had a net worth of $55 million. Eventually, his monopoly was ended and his business began to be looked down upon by the public.2 This is the main reason one of the bombs was targeted at him. He was a major big-money Entrepreneur and was seen as a threat. Although the attempted bombing of Rockefeller was not as influential as when it happened to Palmer, it still had some repercussions. Again, the American people began to lose trust and question big-money people and economic/political leaders.
1. "A. Mitchell Palmer," The Biography Channel (accessed Nov 13, 2013). http://www.biography.com/people/a-mitchell-palmer-38048.
2. "John Davison Rockefeller," The Biography Channel (accessed Nov 13, 2013). ://www.biography.com/people/john-d-rockefeller-20710159.
3. Simkin, John. "Alexander Mitchell Palmer." Spartacus Educational. Last modified September 1997. Accessed November 13, 2013. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USApalmerA.htm.
4.Tangient. "The Red Scare of 1919-1920." Museum of the Red Scare 1920. Accessed November 13, 2013. ://museumredscare1920.wikispaces.com/The+Red+Scare+of+1919-1920.
5. "Eugene V. Debs," United States History. Accessed November 13, 2013. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h801.html.
Out of the same thirty-six bombs, one of which struck Palmer's home, John D. Rockefeller was also targeted. John D. Rockefeller was an Entrepreneur who thrived in the oil industry.2 He dominated the oil industry and at one point had a net worth of $55 million. Eventually, his monopoly was ended and his business began to be looked down upon by the public.2 This is the main reason one of the bombs was targeted at him. He was a major big-money Entrepreneur and was seen as a threat. Although the attempted bombing of Rockefeller was not as influential as when it happened to Palmer, it still had some repercussions. Again, the American people began to lose trust and question big-money people and economic/political leaders.
1. "A. Mitchell Palmer," The Biography Channel (accessed Nov 13, 2013). http://www.biography.com/people/a-mitchell-palmer-38048.
2. "John Davison Rockefeller," The Biography Channel (accessed Nov 13, 2013). ://www.biography.com/people/john-d-rockefeller-20710159.
3. Simkin, John. "Alexander Mitchell Palmer." Spartacus Educational. Last modified September 1997. Accessed November 13, 2013. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USApalmerA.htm.
4.Tangient. "The Red Scare of 1919-1920." Museum of the Red Scare 1920. Accessed November 13, 2013. ://museumredscare1920.wikispaces.com/The+Red+Scare+of+1919-1920.
5. "Eugene V. Debs," United States History. Accessed November 13, 2013. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h801.html.
J. Edgar Hoover
Obtaining a job through a relative, Hoover was able to be admitted in to the District of Columbia Bar in 1917, a recent law school graduate [1]. By 1919, Hoover was promoted and became an assistant to Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer shortly after the Red Scare began [1]. With the rising awareness of the Red Scare, it allowed Hoover to further his career and at the same time allowed him to play a key role. After the mail bombs, (especially one of the victims being Attorney General Mitchell Palmer), exploded signaling the true severity of the Red Scare to Americans, Hoover, had been appointed to lead the infamous Palmer Raids [1]. This meant Hoover was to oversee raids across the nation to apprehend those suspected or thought to be involved with radicals or communists, then to either interrogate, incarcerate, or even deport suspects [2]. Though a minor player at the time, this leads to a promising future for J. Edgar Hoover as he was able to capture over 10,000 of those suspected of being communist or radicals while having the support of the police force, politicians and other kinds of law enforcement at the same time [1]. Hoover's also was known to abuse his newly given power by completely disregarding the civil liberties of those in question [1]. Furthermore, most of the suspects captured had no involvement in the radical bombings, or suspects left without being charged for anything at all [1]. Yet that did not hinder Hoover’s success during the time of the Red Scare as he further appeared at congressional hearings with politicians and even in the Supreme Court [1]. Hoover was able to climb up the ladder of political success through his involvement in the Red Scare. Due to his role in the Red Scare, Hoover later became the director of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) formally known as the Bureau of Investigation [2].
[1] Ackerman, Kenneth D. 2007. "How Hoover Became Hoover; the Future FBI Director Set the Tone for His Reign by Executing a Crackdown on Suspected Anarchists during the 1919-'20 Red Scare." Los Angeles Times, Jun 14, 0. http://search.proquest.com/docview/422161679?accountid=10351.
[2] "J. Edgar Hoover," The Biography Channel website,http://www.biography.com/people/j-edgar-hoover-9343398 (accessed Nov 14, 2013).
Obtaining a job through a relative, Hoover was able to be admitted in to the District of Columbia Bar in 1917, a recent law school graduate [1]. By 1919, Hoover was promoted and became an assistant to Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer shortly after the Red Scare began [1]. With the rising awareness of the Red Scare, it allowed Hoover to further his career and at the same time allowed him to play a key role. After the mail bombs, (especially one of the victims being Attorney General Mitchell Palmer), exploded signaling the true severity of the Red Scare to Americans, Hoover, had been appointed to lead the infamous Palmer Raids [1]. This meant Hoover was to oversee raids across the nation to apprehend those suspected or thought to be involved with radicals or communists, then to either interrogate, incarcerate, or even deport suspects [2]. Though a minor player at the time, this leads to a promising future for J. Edgar Hoover as he was able to capture over 10,000 of those suspected of being communist or radicals while having the support of the police force, politicians and other kinds of law enforcement at the same time [1]. Hoover's also was known to abuse his newly given power by completely disregarding the civil liberties of those in question [1]. Furthermore, most of the suspects captured had no involvement in the radical bombings, or suspects left without being charged for anything at all [1]. Yet that did not hinder Hoover’s success during the time of the Red Scare as he further appeared at congressional hearings with politicians and even in the Supreme Court [1]. Hoover was able to climb up the ladder of political success through his involvement in the Red Scare. Due to his role in the Red Scare, Hoover later became the director of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) formally known as the Bureau of Investigation [2].
[1] Ackerman, Kenneth D. 2007. "How Hoover Became Hoover; the Future FBI Director Set the Tone for His Reign by Executing a Crackdown on Suspected Anarchists during the 1919-'20 Red Scare." Los Angeles Times, Jun 14, 0. http://search.proquest.com/docview/422161679?accountid=10351.
[2] "J. Edgar Hoover," The Biography Channel website,http://www.biography.com/people/j-edgar-hoover-9343398 (accessed Nov 14, 2013).