The 18th Amendment, which instituted Prohibition in the United States, and the immigration restrictions of the 1920s, particularly the Immigration Act of 1924, are interconnected elements of the broader socio-political environment during the Red Scare. The Red Scare, primarily driven by fears of communism and radicalism following the Russian Revolution, led to widespread paranoia about perceived threats to American values and stability. In this context, Prohibition was seen by some as a moral crusade against the perceived excesses of immigrant cultures, which were often associated with alcoholism and crime.
The backlash against immigrants during this period was fueled by a belief that they were linked to leftist ideologies, thus prompting strict immigration laws that aimed to preserve what was viewed as a "pure" American society. This anti-immigrant sentiment was indicative of the nativism that flourished in the 1920s, which was also a reaction to the economic and social upheavals of the post-World War I era. In this way, the 18th Amendment and immigration restrictions reflect a common theme: the desire for social and moral order amid fears of radical change. Both policies can be seen as responses to the same underlying anxieties about American identity and safety, demonstrating a cause-and-effect relationship where societal fears influenced both the legal framework surrounding alcohol and immigration.