And we return to our American stories, and now it's time for another rule of law story

as a part of our rule of law series, where

we show you what happens when there's either an absence or presence of the rule of law in our

lives. Here's our own Monty Montgomery with the story of a particularly dark time in our nation's

history. We value our rights.

They're important.

And for the most part, they're protected.

But on January 3, 1920, the rule of law in this country faced an unprecedented threat.

Here's Larry Reed, President Emeritus, of the Foundation for Economic Education, or Fee,

with more.

It was on the morning of January 3rd, 1920, that Americans woke up to discover just how little

their own government regarded the cherished Bill of Rights.

It was during the night that some 4,000 of their fellow

citizens were rounded up and jailed for what amounted in most cases to no good reason at all

and no due process either. This was the worst night of the Palmer raids. They're largely

forgotten today, but unfortunately they shouldn't be.

They were a horrific, shameful episode in American history, one of the lowest moments for

liberty since King George III quartered troops in private homes.

The terror during the wee hours of January 3rd, 1920, literally shocked and frightened Americans from coast to coast.

But to understand why the palmer raids occurred, you have to understand the times in which they happened

and know about the other infractions on civil liberties that occurred in tandem with them.

During this time, roughly from the start of the First World War, or American entry, I should

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