Communism And Socialism In The United States

The economic and social system of communism is derived from the writings of Karl Marx, who defined it as “the riddle of history solved, and it knows itself to be this solution” (Marx & Engels, 1848). However, many economists would simply describe it as the elimination of private property. Essentially, in the ideal communist system, the government owns everything and distributes the resources to the people. Though a large group of philosophers and economists have theorized many systems that can be considered communist, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’s Communist Manifesto is usually considered the basis for the economic system. Engels was not a deeply religious man, nor an atheist; however, he considered himself a Pantheist (one who believes that God is the entire universe, that he is one with nature). Karl Marx in contrast, was a staunch atheist, stating “The first requisite for the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion” (Marx, A Criticism of the Hegelian Philosophy of Law , 1844). But even with different religious beliefs, both men believed that the natural state of man is one of virtue, a belief that shaped communism.

During the 1950’s, Communism was a major fear that Democratic nations such as America were afraid of because of its radical ideas. The actions taken due to the Red Scare and the rise of McCarthyism were necessary and completely justified to protect America’s freedom and government from Communist power. With an increase of Communistic nations invading other countries and forcing their ideas upon them there was an uproar of fear in the United States. The Domino Theory was a legitimate fear of if one nation falling to communism, every nation around it would fall as well. Focusing their attention to VIetnam especially, America increased military control in these regions. Multiple Legislative actions taken by the United States such as the creation of the HAUC and the Espionage and Sedition acts were necessary to stop threats to America’s freedom. The heated tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War contributed to the fear of an attack from the East. Senator McCarthy’s convincing accusations lead to many accurate accusations as well as the rise of McCarthyism. Valid points were brought up about president Roosevelt’s New Deal policies of having capitalistic characteristics. While some actions did take away the civil liberties of some Americans, and were not always accurate, they were necessary to protect American Democracy, as well as the safety of the citizens.

Three different types of economic systems used by governments are Communism, Capitalism, and Socialism. Each type of system is unique in different ways. Each has distinct aspects that make it what it is. In communism, the government runs everything and there are no social classes. The government in capitalism doesn’t interfere with any businesses and lets the citizens own and operate them. Socialism is basically a mixture of the two economic systems. The government runs certain businesses, but citizens run the rest. The three economic systems are different in the way they run things and regulate things.

Communism is a social, economical and political ideology that the people are to be equal which meant no social classes. It also meant that “the people would own everything, and receive the same quality and quantity of possessions” (Sentinel). Communists living in the United States were awarded the epithet “Reds” due to their association with the red Soviet flag. The color red also symbolizes bloodshed and the struggle for political change. So, applying those who were perceived as a threat with the scare that was brought upon America, developed the name, the Red Scare. Most Americans feared communism because if this system advanced through the U.S, it would be a menace to the country’s democratic values. This lead to the government, and those who called themselves “anti-communists” to besiege any communist threats that aimed to overthrow both democratic and capitalist institutions. Since the Soviet Union occupied most of Eastern and Central Europe, it was believed that the nation would continue to spread its belief in communism.

The Red Scare was a period of mass hysteria in the United States during 1919-1920, which was after World War I. This was the time when Americans feared that communism would spread to their country. This fear affected their views toward immigrants who came to the United States. They especially were frightened toward those who embraced their communist, socialist or anarchist ideology. There were many strong nationalistic and anti-immigrant feelings in America which led to the Red Scare. Another reason why Americans feared immigrants was because of the Bolshevik Revolution led by Lenin in Russia. Many in the United States were scared that Russians wished to overthrow the United States government. ("The Red Scare of 1919-1920.").

After World War I , the american government was going thru a phase of social struggles ; prohibition laws , the suffragette movement and the chicago race riot.(chnm.gmu.edu).The war brought a wave of migration into the american land, many americans weren't happy about the situation , they believed that the immigrant people will bring with them their “foreign” ideas and ruin the american values. The americans feared the idea of communism especially after the Bolsheviks Revolution ; in 1919 The “Palmer Raids” took place under the leadership of then Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer. Palmer believed that communism was corrupting the american values , he even made an essay called “The case against the Reds” (reds referring to communist). “The

Red Scare as it is known is used to describe a time that had dealt with extreme anti-communism in the United States. Red comes from the color of the communists flag color of the soviet union. Scare simply comes from the fact that many people were scared that communism would come to the United States. Communism, which was commonly feared by most U.S. citizens is a system of social and economic organization in which property is owned by the state or group, to be shared in common or to be distributed among members of the community equally or in proportion to their respective needs. In 1919, 1/10 of the American population consisting of adults belonged to the new Communist movement, and even this small percentage was greatly affected.

The Czar of Russia and his entire family were murdered by the Red Army during the Russian Revolution. The Red Army had a “red” flag. This “Red Scare” crossed the ocean like a plague. The American people were afraid that American’s would be taken over by Communist and their new People’s Party. At the time, Communist was a legal party in the United States. There were also many immigrants in the American from both Europe and Eastern Europe. “Real Americans” thought that these immigrants were planning and plotting to take over the government. Just like 9-11, when Americans sought out immigrants as an evil force trying to take over their country, the Red Scare became a force that made neighbor turn on neighbor. The first Red Scare lasted over ten years with another one happening in the 1920’s. The 9-11 has lasted more than fourteen

After World War I, a new threat flooded into the minds of the American population. Communism was on the rise and it was causing a lot of concern within the American populace. The Red Scare was the nationwide hysteria in America, caused by the spread of communism in the 1920’s. This fear of communism bled into many aspects of American life. It caused the U.S. government to target any American who’s patriotism was in question, and it contributed to Americans' negative attitudes towards foreigners in the 1920’s. In addition to “suspicious individuals”, the U.S. government also challenged labor unions and intimidated liberal constituencies. The Red Scare led to a range of actions that had a far-reaching and enduring effect on U.S. government and

Soon after the conclusion of World War II in 1945, Communism posed a threat in the United States. This threat, also known as the Red Scare, was triggered because of the tension between the Soviet Union and the United States. The tension between the two superpowers led to the beginning of the Cold War in the late 1940s. Because the Soviets were a communistic country, many Americans feared Communism because of the influence that it had in America. Many intellectuals supported Communism in the U.S. which led to more concern within the country. The communistic threat presented by the Soviets in the war led to the spread of Communism within the U.S. It was a fear that many Americans spoke out against in attempt to save the American

Communism did not really get into the American people’s thoughts until after the Russia’s Bolshevik Revolution on November 7, 1917. In this revolution, Vladimir Lenin and his leftist revolutionaries revolted against the imperial family and rule, which then forced the renunciation of Nicholas II, who was the last Russian Czar. The Bolsheviks seized power and this started communism in Russia. The First Red Scare responded to the Russian Revolution in 1919 when eight bombs were set off throughout the United States, targeting significant politicians. One of these targets was Attorney General Arnold Palmer, who

Communism played a major role shaping the 20th century, both for the East and the United States. Its impact can be seen in the US from 1919 to the 1990s and even today. The spread of Communist ideals in the East meant the beginning of the socialist state and mass industrialization. Its effect on the US was much different. The United States people, heavily diversified of all races, religions, and financial statuses, became extremely jingoistic as a result of competition with the USSR. This nationalism became unhealthy as citizens began determining what was “un-American.” The Communist Party USA was not successful in their primary objective of spreading communism to the US. What they did achieve however was hugely important. They showed that citizens of the United States could be scared out of their own freedom. That fear would lead them to give up “liberty and justice for all”. Still a highly misunderstood idea, it is important for citizens of the United States to understand what communism is and what impact the CPUSA and other communist organizations had on the country.

There is a common sense that a mighty country is built up with the freedom and liberty. It is expected to grant the citizens a right to raise their concerns and engage into the decision-making for the nation. To a great extent, this ideology shapes the identity of the United States and its political position towards the rise of communism, especially when “communism” has been referred as the idea of “tyranny” with the dictatorship after World War II. The horrified cognition of communism gets the Americans into panic, while the local government worries that the communist power would take over the United States. In response to the

Also, most of these reactions have been out of fear. The creation of an actual communist nation led to much unrest and suspicion toward Communists in the United States and other Capitalist countries. This dissention was the product of the fact that Communism is firmly against Capitalism. The First Red Scare took place in 1919-1920. It was a “widespread fear of Bolshevism and anarchism” (Red Scare)9. It intensified following an anarchist bomb plot in 1919. The paranoia became so bad that Bolshevism was marked as the explanation for all social order. After World War II, a Second Red Scare emerged. “The second Red Scare refers to the fear of communism that permeated American politics, culture, and society from the late 1940s through the 1950s, during the opening phases of the Cold War with the Soviet Union” (Second Red Scare)10. It lasted considerably longer than the 1st Red Scare. Senator Joe McCarthy used this period of suspicion to his advantage by creating a list of 250 “Communists” working in the State Dept. in the hopes of being reelected. “His claim was bogus, his numbers constantly changed, and he never once identified any person guilty of disloyalty. He did create an increased atmosphere of paranoia and hysteria in the United States until the Senate finally censured him after the Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954” (McCarthyism)11. The Cold War

Towner Phelan (1956) criticizes in his article, “The Liberal in the Modern World”, the ideologies and values of the twentieth-century liberals. He believes that the “new liberals” are beginning to lose the value in the standing foundation of liberalism, and are now more accepting of obstructing one’s liberties and rights to benefit his or her own associated group. When they [twentieth-century liberals] face challenges they turn towards Hegel’s ideology of what it means to be “free”; his definition of a “free man” is not one that works towards his desires, but, rather, towards the greater good of his nation. Liberals become hypocrites in the sense that they frowned about Germany’s tactic in Hitler’s era, but continue to practice the some