McCarthy and the Red Scare

McCarthy and the Red ScareChapter 26.31The Second Red ScarePeople feared that Communism would spread around the worldSoviet Union took over Eastern Europe and Communism took over ChinaAt the height of World War II, about 80,000 Americans were a member of the Communist PartyPeople feared that their first loyalty would be the Soviet Union

2Loyalty Review BoardThe Federal Employee Loyalty Program was set up when anti-Communist Republicans accused Truman of being too soft on Communism, including the Loyalty Review BoardIts purpose was to find and dismiss disloyal government employeesA list of 91 subversive organizations were deemed suspicious 1947-1951- 3.2 million employees were investigated 212 employees dismissed2,900 resigned- they didnt want to be investigated and thought their rights would be violated

3The House of Un-American Activities CommitteeOther agencies investigated inside and outside of the U.S. government Most famous: House of Un-American Activities CommitteeInvestigated the movie industryBelieved that propaganda was being sneaked into films

4Hollywood Ten43 witnesses were questionedMany of the witnesses were friendly and supported the Communism accusationsTen unfriendly witnesses refused to testify because they felt the hearings were unconstitutionalThese ten people were called the Hollywood TenThey were sent to jail for refusing to testify

5Hollywood Ten cont.Hollywood responded to the hearings with a blacklist- a list of about 500 actors, writers, producers, and directors who were not allowed to work on Hollywood films because of their alleged Communist connections

6The McCarran ActCongress decided that Trumans Loyalty Review Board wasnt enoughPassed the McCarran International Security Act Made it unlawful to plan any action that might lead to the establishment of a totalitarian dictatorship in the U.S.Truman vetoed the billed but the Act was still passed

7Spy Cases Stun the NationAlger Hiss-1948Whittaker Chambers, a former Communist spy, accused Alger Hiss, a former State Department Official, of spying for the Soviet UnionA microfilm of government documents were produced that was claimed to be typed on Hisss typewriterToo much time passed to convict him of espionage but the jury convicted him of perjury for lying about the forged documents1990s- Soviet cables released by the National Securities Agency seemed to prove his guilt

8The RosenbergsSept. 3, 1949- Americans learned that the Soviet Union exploded an atomic bomb which was thought to take another 3-5 yearsPeople suspected Communist supporters in the U.S. leaked the secret of the atomic bomb outKlaus Fuchs- admitted to giving the Soviet Union info on the Americans atomic bomb which probably helped the Soviets develop the bomb fasterEthel and Julius Rosenberg were thought to have been involved since they were minor activists in the American Communist PartyThey denied the charges and plead the 5th

9The Rosenbergs cont.The Rosenbergs believed they were being prosecuted because they were Jewish and held radical beliefsJudge Irving Kaufman thought they were directly responsible for the deadliest clashes of the Cold WarDeclared their crime was worse than murder They were found guilty of espionage and sentenced to death by electric chairFirst U.S. civilians executed for espionage

10McCarthyJoseph McCarthy- most famous anti-Communist activistWas known for being an ineffective legislature Realized that if he wanted to be reelected in the Senate, he would have to use a winning issueCommunism spreading

11McCarthyismMcCarthyism- the attacks, often unsubstantiated, by Senator Joseph McCarthy and others on people suspected of being Communist in the early 1950sAccused people without having proofMcCarthy claimed he had a list of people but he never gave namesMcCarthy only pointed fingers in the SenateHe had legal immunity and couldnt be sued for slander

12McCarthys DownfallMcCarthy made accusations against the U.S. Army which resulted in a nationally televised Senate investigation He bullied witnesses and lost his supportSenate condemned him for improper conducttended to bring the Senate into dishonor and disreputeHe died 3 years later, an alcoholic and a broken man

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