Post World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution, Americans faced many other shocking changes in their country. American politics quickly changed in wanting to avoid communism at any extent, and people were highly paranoid, questioning any immigrants as spies threatening American values [2]. Politics became much more conservative and reactionary in fear of radicalism and communism.[1] Other factors such as bombings, raids, and labor strikes only further pressed this fear of communism.[1]
With occurrences such as these, American’s became highly more exposed to propaganda. Propaganda being, any form of publication that seeks to manipulate the views of one group to another, further on disrespecting another group, and finally being able to disregard any truth.[2]
High volumes of propaganda against what was considered “anti-american"were produced, combined with increased Patriotism, to go against the promotion of any other ideals, truly having a profound role in the Red Scare, in merely affecting how citizens reacted. Newspaper articles, and Political Cartoons, were the most common and significant methods of publication in promoting certain ideals and political agendas, and further on condemning anything or anyone’s ideals different as “anti-american”. [2]
As radical ideals and groups became popular to some and protests began, newspapers began publishing articles in promotion of radicals being dealt with [2]. Soon both radicals and communists became known as “Reds”, grouping the two and not being able to separate the two by their differences [2]. This type of propaganda began promoting xenophobia, putting the public into mass hysteria when dealing with immigrants. Even citizens participating in labor strikes were associated with “Red Agitators”, or riots were blamed on Red Agitators and were claimed to have attacked police.[3] The use of this type of propaganda was meant to attract certain feelings from their audience in order to promote certain ideas, beliefs and in order to gain support against what was known as the “Red Menace” [2].
[1] Nielsen, Kim. 2004. What's a Patriotic Man to Do?: Patriotic Masculinities of the Post-WWI Red Scare. Men and Masculinities. 6, no. 3: 240-253.
[2] Schroeder, Christy Lynn. "Red Scare Propaganda in the United States: A Visual and Rhetorical Analysis." PhD diss., Georgia State University, 2007.
[3] Healey, Floyd J. 1934. "PEACE SEEN AFTER RIOT." Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File), May 29, 1. http://search.proquest.com/docview/163153038?accountid=10351.
With occurrences such as these, American’s became highly more exposed to propaganda. Propaganda being, any form of publication that seeks to manipulate the views of one group to another, further on disrespecting another group, and finally being able to disregard any truth.[2]
High volumes of propaganda against what was considered “anti-american"were produced, combined with increased Patriotism, to go against the promotion of any other ideals, truly having a profound role in the Red Scare, in merely affecting how citizens reacted. Newspaper articles, and Political Cartoons, were the most common and significant methods of publication in promoting certain ideals and political agendas, and further on condemning anything or anyone’s ideals different as “anti-american”. [2]
As radical ideals and groups became popular to some and protests began, newspapers began publishing articles in promotion of radicals being dealt with [2]. Soon both radicals and communists became known as “Reds”, grouping the two and not being able to separate the two by their differences [2]. This type of propaganda began promoting xenophobia, putting the public into mass hysteria when dealing with immigrants. Even citizens participating in labor strikes were associated with “Red Agitators”, or riots were blamed on Red Agitators and were claimed to have attacked police.[3] The use of this type of propaganda was meant to attract certain feelings from their audience in order to promote certain ideas, beliefs and in order to gain support against what was known as the “Red Menace” [2].
[1] Nielsen, Kim. 2004. What's a Patriotic Man to Do?: Patriotic Masculinities of the Post-WWI Red Scare. Men and Masculinities. 6, no. 3: 240-253.
[2] Schroeder, Christy Lynn. "Red Scare Propaganda in the United States: A Visual and Rhetorical Analysis." PhD diss., Georgia State University, 2007.
[3] Healey, Floyd J. 1934. "PEACE SEEN AFTER RIOT." Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File), May 29, 1. http://search.proquest.com/docview/163153038?accountid=10351.