Palmer Raids Begin

Date: January 2, 1920 • Location: Washington D.C., United States

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 1919–1920.

Under the leadership of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer (pictured), U.S. Department of Justice agents launched a series of raids against radical leftists and anarchists in more than 30 cities and towns across 23 states.

Alexander Mitchell Palmer was an American attorney and politician who served as the 50th United States attorney general from 1919 to 1921. He is best known for overseeing the Palmer Raids during the Red Scare of 1919–20.