Culture Shock

[Tynnin]

I personally have no direct experience to draw upon (I was in dippers at the time and not yet a resident of the States) but I recently got it in my head to look into the subject of McCarthyism and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on what ifs.

Is it plausible, and if so, what if:

1) Interment camps for the accused.
2) More aggressive military campaign against communism – i.e. direct invasion of the USSR.
3) A fascist type government developing in the States.
4) Assuming a more aggressive military campaign against communism and or the development of a fascist government do you think the US would find itself at the business end of war to halt the spread of “American Democracy”.

Questions and answers can apply to either the “Red Scare” in the 20’s or the 50’s. How would such a political movement affect presidential elections, domestic and foreign policies of the US?

I’m open to any other scenarios people want to through into this.

 

[Straha]

President henry wallace is a good way to cause a right-wing backlash to get closer to your goal

 

[Diamond]

You know, I never thought of something like this being applied to the 1920s. When a topic like this comes up, you automatically think 1950s, mainly because of McCarthy's rabid anti-communism.

But it would be interesting to see what happens with an altered 1920s scenario:

-Perhaps Trotsky & Lenin remain in control of the USSR, advocating a more proactive sort of communism - supporting uprisings in other nations.

-The US, for whatever reason, sits WWI out. This doesn't necessarily lead to a Central Powers victory; it actually would be more interesting if the Entente still triumphs.

-Imagine Teddy Roosevelt living another decade and running for President in 1924. He'd be 66 years old, but in this TL, maybe he's healthy enough to live and still be 'on his game' enough to win the Presidency.

-This alt-TR sees world communism as an incredible threat, and supports anti-communist efforts in Germany and other likely nations, sending in troops, etc. etc. Maybe he drums up a 'guilt complex' in the American public for not helping out in WWI.

-This situation could easily spiral into warfare in the 1930s, with a US and Britain-backed France and Germany facing off against the USSR and who knows how many satellite nations.

-Mix in some totalitarian American firebrands, add a Great Depression, and you could have a repressive American gov't which might even really think its doing it all to protect Americans against communism.

Thoughts?

 

[Falcon1976]

Teddy Roosevelt was quite progressive for his time. He set up all sorts of government standards (maeat packing and safety in industry come to mind there are others). He was a friend of the organized labor movement, he may not be as opposed to communism as you may think.

I also seem to have noticed that Lenin's five-year plan included some private ownership, if his policies are carried on then you might find a Soviet Union looking like a Social Democracy in Western Europe.

Who knows though? That's why I like Alternate History.

 

[Tynnin]

If things become even more aggressive towards communism in the 20’s would Teddy even bother with making concessions to the labor groups given the atmosphere of the nation in the years after 1915. From what I know of him, he was a political hard-ass who favored a heavy hand in defending American interests. If the national temperament is anti-socialists/communist wouldn’t he jump to the defense of the national interests and take the fight to the commies? Or am I completely off base here?

 

[Diamond]

If things become even more aggressive towards communism in the 20’s would Teddy even bother with making concessions to the labor groups given the atmosphere of the nation in the years after 1915. From what I know of him, he was a political hard-ass who favored a heavy hand in defending American interests. If the national temperament is anti-socialists/communist wouldn’t he jump to the defense of the national interests and take the fight to the commies? Or am I completely off base here?

I would tend to agree with that. This IS an alternate history, after all. There's no reason to assume TR's attitudes couldn't change in response to what is perceived as a far less insular USSR willing to do whatever it takes to spread world communism.