THE COLD WAR, THE RED SCARE, AND McCARTHYISM

THE COLD WAR

•Definition: Open yet restricted rivalry/hostility between U.S. and Soviet Union and respective allies •1947 – 1991•Never featured direct

military action

COMPETING IDEOLOGIES AND BELIEFS

United States vs. Soviet UnionDemocracy vs. Communism

THE COLD WAR•U.S. & Britain feared Soviet/communist

expansion in W. Europe and beyond • Soviets determined to

keep control of E. Europe•Quickly became an “arms

race” – who could build the most destructive weapons

UNITED STATESDemocratic government: • supreme power vested in people• free electoral system•power exercised directly by

people or elected agents

UNITED STATESCapitalism:•economic system • investment made/ownership

maintained mainly by private individuals/corporations, including production, distribution, exchange of wealth

UNITED STATES

Freedom of expression:•Arts•Entertainment•Media•Religion

SOVIET UNIONCommunist government: • All economic/social activity controlled

by oppressive state • dominated by single

political party in continuous control

SOVIET UNION•People incapable of choosing

leaders•Repressed all opposition•Demanded rigid

obedience •No religious tolerance

DISTRUST AND PROPAGANDA

•U.S. and Soviet Union assumed very worst of each other•No peace or

reconciliatory talks •Emphasized the

threat from the other to their citizens

DISTRUST AND PROPAGANDA• Sent spy satellites /agents to check

each other’s activities

DISTRUST AND PROPAGANDA

•Politicians referenced and declared U.S. / U.S.S.R. threatened world peace

MILITARY BUILDUP

• Cold War resulted in massive military buildup.

• “Arms Race” - Both sides stocked up on atomic, hydrogen, nuclear weapons.

MILITARY BUILDUP

•Use of these weapons would ensure complete annihilation of both countries.

•Created massive fear among citizens.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQF7vdXK184

THE (SECOND) RED SCARE1950 - 1954

THE EFFECTS OF FEAR• Fear of communism dominated American politics • Shaped foreign policy•Americans feared

individuals who supported ideas/objectives of Communist Party might overthrow U. S. gov.

THE 1950s•Gov. agencies/politicians carried out

overzealous executive/legislative investigations of political dissenters•Disregarded individuals’

basic constitutional rights

THE ANTI-COMMUNIST CRUSADE

•Nation embarked on crusade •Goal - root out communist

influence in American wherever evidence of treason could be found.

PUBLIC FEAR• Communism a national obsession •Miss America contestants asked for

their views on Karl Marx, Communism's founder • Cincinnati Reds baseball

team changed name to Redlegs

PUBLIC FEAR•Movies, books, TV and radio

shows, comic books, celebrities, politicians all warned about the "Red menace."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByvXINerE_k&list=UU5rNjpSthkvMIyWdason_5g&index=1&feature=plcp

MCCARTHYISM

DEFINITION OF TERM• the practice of making accusations of disloyalty,

subversion, or treason w/out proper evidence• Originated during “Red Scare”

(1950 – 1954) in U. S. , time of heightened fears of communist influence and Soviet spies

JOSEPH McCARTHY•Born 1908/died 1957• Consider one of least qualified,

most corrupt politicians of his time•Waged vicious campaign to expose

Communist spies in U.S. gov.•Never found one, but fueled national hysteria

called the “Red Scare”

POLITICAL AMBITION• End of first term, McCarthy took advantage of

nation’s fanatic terror against communism • Feb. 9, 1950: claimed to have

list of 205 known-members of American Communist Party within the State Department

POLITICAL AMBITION•Am. public went crazy with thought of

radical communists living in U. S.•Demanded investigation of

underground agitators •Most on McCarthy’s list not

communists

McCARTHY'S PERSECUTION

• McCarthy’s false accusations/unrelenting publicity:

– Caused many to lose their jobs

– Produced popular attacks/ judgment/accusations on others

– Destroyed reputations

HOLLYWOOD BLACKLIST

•Mid-20th-century list of screenwriters, actors, directors, musicians, composers, etc. denied employment because of political beliefs/associations, real or suspected

HOLLYWOOD BLACKLIST• Artists barred from work on basis of:

– alleged membership in/ sympathy toward American Communist Party

– involvement in liberal/ humanitarian political causes blacklist enforcers associated with communism

– refusal to assist investigations into Communist Party activities

HOLLYWOOD BLACKLIST• Caused direct damage to careers of many American

artists

• Lead to betrayal of friendships

• Ruined personal/professional relationships

• Promoted censorship across entire industry