The red scare originated out of an American fear of forms of government other than democracy, especially that of communism. After the Second world war, russia had an increasing amount of power and influence and affected,with ease, many countries in need of economic and politic change. americans feared this spread of communism because it threatened the democratic way of life that americans so nobly fought for. after china fell to communism, americans felt that they needed to do everything within their power to assure that america did not fall to the control of the communists as well. this led to mccarthyism, the random accusations of others being communists, and what we now call the red scare. Many People were wrongfully thrown in prison simply out of paranoia. the only way an accused person could avoid being sent to prison was to give up the names of other communists. this led to a circle of accusations much like what was seen in the crucible and the witch hunts of salem.