What term describes the 1919-1920 period of fear over the influence of Socialists and Bolsheviks in the United States?

The correct answer is the "Red Scare," which refers to the period of intense fear and paranoia regarding the potential influence of Socialists, Bolsheviks, and radical leftist ideologies in the United States following World War I. This era was characterized by widespread suspicion of communism and anarchism, fueled by the Russian Revolution of 1917 and subsequent developments that raised public anxiety about the possibility of similar uprisings occurring in America. This fear led to events such as the Palmer Raids, where government officials conducted mass arrests and deportations of individuals deemed to be radicals, particularly targeting immigrants.

In contrast, McCarthyism arose later, during the late 1940s and 1950s, characterized by Senator Joseph McCarthy's efforts to root out alleged communists in government and other sectors, rather than being a direct reference to the events of 1919-1920. The Progressive Era, on the other hand, was a period of social activism and political reform that spanned from the 1890s to the 1920s, distinct from the fear-driven context of the Red Scare. The Labor Movement, while also relevant to this time period, primarily focused on workers' rights and conditions rather than the specific