This represents America’s flawed response to both the anarchist threat and the Red Scare, which was the most important reason as to why terrorism remained a prevalent force between 1906 and 1920. Brenda and James Lutz note how a weak government structure meant that many terrorists never faced consequences for their actions. 7 The failure to identify terrorism and mishandling of the Red Scare allowed terrorism to continue largely undetected until it was too late. The effectiveness of the anarchist movement is an important factor to consider when determining why terrorism was such a prevalent force within America between 1906 and 1920. Chris Vials notes that the movement was always small, which could explain why many American’s did not consider the movement to be a consistent threat within the nation. 8 Jeffrey D. Simon notes how the Galleanists, one of the most active Italian anarchist groups within America at the time, likely consisted of ‘between 50 and 60 hardcore members’. 9 Despite this, the Galleanists were able to carry out acts of terrorism across America, introducing terrorism tactics that are still being used today. As Simon notes, they introduced the wide-scale use of package bombs and were the first to detonate vehicle bombs within the United States, which were innovative forms of attack that caught the authorities off guard. 10 The tactics of anarchist groups showcased the vulnerability of America, something which Robert Pinkerton noted at the time, stating that the system the US had in place to overcome the anarchist threat needed a ‘thorough reorganization’. 11 Whilst Pinkerton’s article was written five years before the period that is being assessed, it highlights an important reason as to why terrorism remained a prevalent force. He notes that Europe took Anarchism seriously whilst America treated it as a joke until President McKinley’s assassination. 12 This showcases that the anarchists were effective as they were not considered to be a legitimate threat. Anarchist leaders such an Emma Goldman were also responsible for this effectiveness. Goldman ushered in the resurgence of the anarchist movement within America during 1906, releasing her new journal, ‘Mother Earth’ and touring the nation, delivering popular speeches. 13 Despite attempts to delegitimise Goldman’s right to have free speech, Jensen describes this made her a ‘hero’ to her audience, and provided ‘abundant free publicity’ for the anarchist cause. 14 By not being considered a 7 Brenda J. Lutz and James M. Lutz, Terrorism in America (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007), pp.10-73. VLeBooks. 8 Chris Vials, ‘The Despotism of the Popular: Anarchy and Leon Czolgosz at the Turn of the Century’, Americana: The Journal of American Popular Culture, 1900 to Present , 3.2 (2004), 1-9 (p. 2). 9 Simon, p. 195. 10 Simon, p. 195. 11 Robert A. Pinkerton, ‘Detective Surveillance of Anarchists’, The North American Review , 173.540 (1901), 609-617, (p. 610). 12 Pinkerton, p. 616.
13 Jensen (2001), p. 33. 14 Jensen (2001), p. 33.
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