The Seattle General Strike of February 6 to February 11, 1919, was the first general strike in a U.S. city. Dissatisfied workers in several unions began the strike to gain higher wages after two years of wage controls due to World War I. Most other local unions, including members of the American Federation of Labor and the International Workers of the World, joined the walkout. Although the strike lasted less than a week, many Americans were very disturbed by the prospect of labor unions shutting down cities. Paranoia that the strike had been organized by foreign anarchists and communists helped lead to the Red Scare of 1919 and 1920.
