Teacher Web
1920's Magazine
What a creative and engaging project to incorporate into your studies of the 1920s! Your young historians will work in groups to design a magazine discussing the political and cultural topics of the decade, each member writing one...
Curated OER
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Begin reading The Crucible and form a foundation for your study with this presentation. Arthur Miller and the historical background of McCarthyism are covered at the beginning, followed by short descriptions of all the characters in the...
Curated OER
World War I - America on the Homefront: The Poster War
American propaganda shaped the perspective of many citizens during WWI. Here is an amazing presentation full of dozens of war-time poster examples and facts about what those posters were promoting. This would be a great discussion...
Curated OER
The Red Scare in the 1950's
Students can learn about the Red Scare, McCarthyism, and other related topics with lesson plans that focus on the 1950's and communism.
National First Ladies' Library
Red Hunts, Black Lists, and Communists
Students research and examine the unsavory history of the hunt for communists in the United States during the 1950s. They divide up into groups to review the Red Scare of the 1920s as a backdrop to the McCarthy era and write a short...
George Mason University
George Mason University: Between the Wars: Fear of Dissent
An article, "The Case Against the 'Reds'" written by A. Mitchell Palmer, supporting the Palmer Raids as a method to fight Bolshevism in the United States.
George Mason University
Chnm: The Most Brainiest Man
A fascinating article about how a conversation about Lenin led to the conviction and six-month jail sentence for Joseph Yenowsky. Excellent article shows the extreme fear of Reds and communism in the 1920's.
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: Trial of Sacco and Vanzetti
Comprehensive site that provides the trial transcript and summary of evidence, as well as a chronology, biographies of trial participants, and information of the Red Scare.
The Atlantic Monthly Group
The Atlantic: The Never Ending Wrong
The famous author, Katherine Anne Porter, wrote an article in the July, 1977, The Atlantic magazine, recounting her memory of the Sacco-Vanzetti trial fifty years before, and commenting on the view of Anarchism and Communism in the...
City University of New York
City University of New York: The Red Scare Image Database (1918 1921)
A collection of photos and political cartoons from the period in America called the Red Scare. Provides links to further information and reading.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Anti Communism in the 1950s
[Free Registration/Login Required] An essay tracing the anti-Communist hysteria beginning in earnest at the end of World War II that resulted in Truman's federal Loyalty Security program and ending with McCarthyism in the 1950s.
University of North Carolina
Nc Civic Education Consortium: Joe Mc Carthy and the Red Scare
This very detailed lesson plan incorporates small group activities, whole group activities, projects, debate ideas, and primary sources all related to Joseph McCarthy. Extensive background material is provided along with a bibliography...
Other
Teach American History: The Bonus Army [Pdf]
A great overview along with photographs and an eyewitness account of the march on Washington by the so-called Bonus Army in 1932. Find out why General Douglas MacArthur was so adamant about crushing the march and marchers. [pdf]
Other
Radio News: Edward R. Murrow
This site not only gives a biography of Murrow with a look at his career as a radio and television journalist, but also has 4 audio clips of actual radio reports he gave. Very interesting. Use the links at the bottom of the page.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Oyez: Gitlow v. New York
Brief resource presents the facts of the case, questions presented, and the conclusion of the Gitlow v. New York United States Supreme Court case.
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Postwar Blues and Reds
This tutorial looks at post-World War I America and the disturbing events that took place in 1919 and 1920, for example, racial discrimination, the KKK, backlash against immigrants, the Red Scare, etc. A PDF file of the tutorial is...
OpenStax
Open Stax: The Great War 1914 1919: Demobilization and Its Difficult Aftermath
Looks at the demobilization of the American war effort and the impact it had on people's lives, accompanied by the flu pandemic and fears of contagion, race riots, and the Red Scare. Also looks at the 1920 presidential election which was...
Michigan State University
Michigan State University: Msu Libraries: Digital Collections: Hollywood Ten
Primary source documents related to the Hollywood Ten, a group of writers, directors, and producers who were blacklisted for purported un-American activities and ties to Communism. All materials can be downloaded.
Read Works
Read Works: Internal Security Act of 1950
[Free Registration/Login Required] This ReadWorks passage provides a brief history of the International Security Act of 1950. A paired passage, a passage with related content, and a questions sheet are available to help students build...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: The Modern Era
For a brief overview of the period after World War II until the present, visit this Library of Congress resource. Learn about the Cold War and the first man to walk on the moon.
American Rhetoric
American Rhetoric: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn: Statement at the Smith Act Trial
This is the text of the testimony of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a member of the USA Communist Party, who spoke in her own defense at her trial for being a Communist on April 24 1952, in New York.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Resources: Sacco and Vanzetti
[Free Registration/Login Required] Read about the case of Sacco and Vanzetti, charged and convicted of murder. See why this case was a divisive one and read the broadside, published by the Sacco-Vanzetti Defense Committee, which raised...
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 8: An Age of Confidence and Anxiety
This extensive learning module examines the United States' response to the global uncertainty and instability that followed World War II and the ways that marginalized groups challenged discrimination, and the counter-responses to their...
George Mason University
George Mason University: Between the Wars: The Palmer Raids
Looks at the anti-communist 'Red Scare' that followed WWI with the upheaval of the Russian government, and includes Palmer's essay "The Case Against the Reds" and Emma Goldman's account of her deportation back to Russia.