Red Scare & Palmer Raids – Readers Theater Script (Grades 11-12)

Students confront bomb plots, mass arrests and civil‑liberties backlash.

Focus: Students confront bomb plots, mass arrests and civil‑liberties backlash.

Summary:
Ten scenes trace 1919‑20 fear—from anarchist bombs to Congressional hearings—in a script that probes freedom vs. security.

Script Summary:

• Bomb explodes at Palmer’s house.
• Hoover compiles radical files.
• Goldman deported on 'Soviet Ark'.
• January raids seize 4,000 suspects.
• Senate hearings expose abuses.

What’s Included:

(a single PDF with links to Google Docs/Slides, if print format is preferred you can download from your Google Drive to word/pdf/ppt/etc)

• Readers Theater script (9 pages, 10 scenes, 14‑15 characters, editable Google Doc/PDF)
• Teacher Guide (10 pages) with scene summaries, primary‑source context, CCSS alignment, discussion questions
• Student Worksheet deck (25 Google Slides) covering vocabulary, short‑answer, analysis & extension tasks
• 20‑question self‑grading Google Forms quiz

Skills Addressed:

• Reading Palmer’s 'Case Against the Reds'
• Expressive courtroom & newsroom dialogue
• Debating constitutional limits
• SAT vocab: deportation, tyranny

The worksheet deepens learning with:

• 10 text‑based comprehension questions
• 5 higher‑order analysis prompts
• 5 optional research extension questions (use of primary‑source links)