The Great Red Scare, by Allan L. Damon

This unit must be handled very carefully as the nature of the topic tends to inspire many people to abandon balanced judgment and embrace the diatribe. Students must be reminded of the inherent tensions within the “American system” of government- individual liberty vs. majority rule and the need to protect the individual citizen and the nation. There is, obviously, no easy foolproof solution to the problems presented by these tensions. The Red Scare of 1919-20 provides an excellent arena in which to wrestle with this problem and unfortunately, due to recent events, is particularly relevant in the contemporary United States. Also consider defining civil rights and civil liberties. 

Literature Connection: Animal Farm by George Orwell