Question

How did Alexander Palmer justify the Palmer Raids of 1919 and 1920?

Answer 1

Alexander Palmer justified the Palmer Raids of 1919 and 1920, because he believed there was a serious sense of urgency in raiding and deporting people he perceived were a threat to American ideals and believed it was his duty to protect the United States from Communism. He did not want to be stopped from this project and appointed people to take over when he was unable to lead the raids himself.

Answer 2

Alexander Palmer justified the Palmer Raids of 1919 and 1920 when he warned of an imminent communist takeover. The Palmer Raids took place in the context of the Red Fear which was related to the massive fear to a reaction of the communist radicals in the U.S. The goal of the Palmer Raids was to capture and arrest suspected radical leftists, most of them Italian and Eastern European immigrants as well as anarchists and communists, and deport them from the United States.

On November 25, 1919 a raid uncovered a bombed factory hidden behind a false wall on the Union of Russian Workers headquarters and that led to believe in the threat of communist takeover.