In the aftermath of World War I, the United States was swept by a widespread fear of Bolshevism, anarchism, and political radicalism, known as the First Red Scare. The panic was fueled by a series of bombings, labor unrest, and the Russian Revolution, leading to the Palmer Raids, in which thousands of suspected radicals were arrested without due process. The Red Scare reflected deep anxieties about immigration, social change, and the perceived threat of communist revolution.

The First Red Scare had a significant impact on American literature, with writers like John Dos Passos, Upton Sinclair, and Eugene O'Neill exploring themes of political repression, social injustice, and the struggle for civil liberties. The panic also influenced the poetry of the era, with works reflecting the disillusionment and fear of a society grappling with the aftermath of war and the rise of radical ideologies. The event remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of political paranoia and the erosion of civil rights.