A. Mitchell Palmer

Definition

Alexander Mitchell Palmer (1872–1936) served as Attorney General of the United States from 1919 to 1921. He is best known for overseeing the Palmer Raids during the First Red Scare.

Analogy

Consider A. Mitchell Palmer as your school principal who enforces strict rules due to rumors about misbehavior among students - whether or not those rumors are true doesn't matter; he takes action anyway because he believes it's for everyone's safety.

Related terms

Sedition Act of 1918: An amendment to Espionage Act which made it illegal for anyone to express any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the U.S. government during wartime.

Alien Act: A law passed in 1798 that gave the president power to deport any foreigner he saw as a threat to national security.

Deportation: The act of removing a foreigner from a country for reasons such as illegal status or for having committed crimes.