The Red Scare, The Red Scare, McCarthyism, McCarthyism,

and the Impact and the Impact of the Cold Warof the Cold War

Context Context Following the Second World War, the combatant Following the Second World War, the combatant

nations largely separated into armed camps nations largely separated into armed camps defined by ideology. defined by ideology.

The Cold War began nearly as soon as the The Cold War began nearly as soon as the fighting stopped. fighting stopped.

The twelve Western democracies, dominated by The twelve Western democracies, dominated by the United States, founded NATO as a mutual the United States, founded NATO as a mutual defense organization in 1949. defense organization in 1949.

In response, the communist nations, dominated In response, the communist nations, dominated by the Soviet Union, formed the Warsaw Pact in by the Soviet Union, formed the Warsaw Pact in 1955. 1955.

This alignment would serve as the basic This alignment would serve as the basic framework of the Cold War over the next fifty framework of the Cold War over the next fifty years.years.

Communist Expansion in Communist Expansion in AsiaAsia Shortly after the defeat of Japan in Shortly after the defeat of Japan in

the Second World War, China the Second World War, China resumed its civil war. resumed its civil war.

In 1949, communist forces, led by In 1949, communist forces, led by Mao Zedong, expelled the Mao Zedong, expelled the government of Chiang Kai-Shek to the government of Chiang Kai-Shek to the island of Taiwan and formed the island of Taiwan and formed the Peoples’ Republic of China. Peoples’ Republic of China.

In the United States, the adoption of In the United States, the adoption of communism in China was viewed as communism in China was viewed as evidence of Soviet expansionism, evidence of Soviet expansionism, though later documents showed that though later documents showed that the Soviets had little to do with it. the Soviets had little to do with it.

Truman’s unwillingness to fight a Truman’s unwillingness to fight a larger war with China fueled attacks larger war with China fueled attacks from the right that he was soft on from the right that he was soft on communism.communism.

Chairman Mao

The RosenbergsThe Rosenbergs Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a

young couple living in New young couple living in New York, were arrested for York, were arrested for conspiracy to commit treason conspiracy to commit treason in helping Soviet agents ferret in helping Soviet agents ferret atomic secrets out of the atomic secrets out of the United States. United States.

While they were both members While they were both members of the Communist Party, the of the Communist Party, the espionage charge was far more espionage charge was far more dubious. dubious.

All the same, they were All the same, they were convicted of treason, largely convicted of treason, largely on the strength of the vigorous on the strength of the vigorous prosecution presented by Roy prosecution presented by Roy Cohn. Cohn.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed in the electric were executed in the electric chair on 19 June 1953. chair on 19 June 1953.

Alger HissAlger Hiss Alger Hiss was a bright up Alger Hiss was a bright up

and coming State and coming State Department attaché.Department attaché.

Time Magazine editor Time Magazine editor Whittaker Chambers Whittaker Chambers accused him of passing accused him of passing secrets to the Soviets. secrets to the Soviets.

At trial, Hiss was twice At trial, Hiss was twice acquitted of treason, though acquitted of treason, though he was convicted of perjury. he was convicted of perjury.

This distinction did not This distinction did not matter to many of Hiss’ matter to many of Hiss’ critics on the right, who critics on the right, who continued to label him a continued to label him a traitor. traitor.

House Un-American House Un-American Activities Committee Activities Committee

HUAC was an investigative HUAC was an investigative committee of the US Senate. committee of the US Senate.

In 1947 HUAC investigated In 1947 HUAC investigated alleged communist infiltration alleged communist infiltration of the motion picture of the motion picture industry. industry.

Hearsay, innuendo, and Hearsay, innuendo, and rumor were perfectly rumor were perfectly acceptable forms of evidence. acceptable forms of evidence.

HUAC decided the Fifth HUAC decided the Fifth Amendment did not apply in Amendment did not apply in its hearings so those refusing its hearings so those refusing to testify, branded the to testify, branded the “Hollywood Ten”, were “Hollywood Ten”, were imprisoned for contempt. imprisoned for contempt.

Through pressing witnesses Through pressing witnesses to “name names,” HUAC to “name names,” HUAC claimed to have identified claimed to have identified 324 communists working in 324 communists working in the motion picture industry.the motion picture industry.

Ronald Reagan testifies to HUAC.

Senator Joseph McCarthy Senator Joseph McCarthy Elected to the Senate from Elected to the Senate from

Wisconsin in 1946. Wisconsin in 1946. Rabid anti-communist and Rabid anti-communist and

alleged communist alleged communist infiltration into the infiltration into the American government. American government.

On 20 February 1950, On 20 February 1950, McCarthy made a six hour McCarthy made a six hour Senate speech claiming Senate speech claiming that the Democratic Party that the Democratic Party had been engaged in had been engaged in twenty years of treason. twenty years of treason.

In 1952, the Republicans In 1952, the Republicans gained control of the gained control of the Senate. Senate.

The Republicans named The Republicans named McCarthy as Chairman of McCarthy as Chairman of the Senate Sub-Committee the Senate Sub-Committee on Investigations.on Investigations.

McCarthy HearingsMcCarthy Hearings In the Senate Sub-In the Senate Sub-

Committee for Committee for Investigations, Senator Investigations, Senator McCarthy applied the McCarthy applied the methods of HUAC to the methods of HUAC to the American government, American government, military, and defense military, and defense industry. industry.

According to McCarthy’s According to McCarthy’s own numbers, his own numbers, his investigations drove 400 investigations drove 400 suspected communists suspected communists from the American from the American government, though, in government, though, in reality, few were guilty of reality, few were guilty of anything more than liberal anything more than liberal politics or associations politics or associations

Opposition to Opposition to McCarthyism McCarthyism Senator Margaret Chase Smith, Senator Margaret Chase Smith,

a Republican from Maine, a Republican from Maine, criticized his tactics as being criticized his tactics as being detrimental to individual detrimental to individual freedom. freedom.

In March 1954, McCarthy In March 1954, McCarthy began to investigate Annie Lee began to investigate Annie Lee Moss, a middle aged African Moss, a middle aged African American woman who worked American woman who worked for the Army Signal Corps. for the Army Signal Corps.

For this, Moss lost her job with For this, Moss lost her job with the Army, was dragged before the Army, was dragged before McCarthy’s hearings, and McCarthy’s hearings, and publicly interrogated on publicly interrogated on national television. national television.

Senator Symington pointed out Senator Symington pointed out that there were four Annie Lee that there were four Annie Lee Mosses listed in the Mosses listed in the Washington D.C. phonebook Washington D.C. phonebook and that there was no and that there was no indication that this was the indication that this was the proper one.proper one.

Margaret Chase Smith

"See it Now" "See it Now" The downfall of Senator McCarthy The downfall of Senator McCarthy

would begin on 20 October 1953 on would begin on 20 October 1953 on Edward R. Murrow’s CBS television Edward R. Murrow’s CBS television newsmagazine “See it Now.” newsmagazine “See it Now.”

After “See It Now” exposed the Air After “See It Now” exposed the Air Force for using secret evidence and Force for using secret evidence and guilt by association in the firing of guilt by association in the firing of an officer whose father and sister an officer whose father and sister were suspected communists, were suspected communists, Murrow and Friendly’s next attack Murrow and Friendly’s next attack on McCarthy was not nearly as on McCarthy was not nearly as oblique. oblique.

On 9 March 1954, “See it Now” On 9 March 1954, “See it Now” took on McCarthy directly. Using took on McCarthy directly. Using his own words against him, Murrow his own words against him, Murrow and Friendly demonstrated and Friendly demonstrated McCarthy’s inconsistencies and McCarthy’s inconsistencies and fabrications.fabrications.

CBS News offered McCarthy equal CBS News offered McCarthy equal airtime to refute the charges, an airtime to refute the charges, an offer the Senator took advantage of offer the Senator took advantage of on 6 April 1954. on 6 April 1954.

McCarthy’s rambling, incoherent McCarthy’s rambling, incoherent diatribe-like defense of himself was diatribe-like defense of himself was devastating. devastating.

Edward R. Murrow

Army McCarthy Hearings Army McCarthy Hearings In 1953, McCarthy began an In 1953, McCarthy began an

investigation of the automatic investigation of the automatic promotion of an Army dentist promotion of an Army dentist with leftist political views. with leftist political views.

On 11 March 1954, the Army On 11 March 1954, the Army released a memo detailing the released a memo detailing the efforts that McCarthy and Cohn efforts that McCarthy and Cohn made to secure an Army made to secure an Army commission for drafted commission for drafted McCarthy staffer David Schine. McCarthy staffer David Schine.

With such an allegation of With such an allegation of improper use of his office, the improper use of his office, the Senate Sub-Committee on Senate Sub-Committee on Investigations was now turned Investigations was now turned onto McCarthy. onto McCarthy.

McCarthy now alleged that the McCarthy now alleged that the investigation was a conspiracy investigation was a conspiracy to protect communists including to protect communists including FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and President Eisenhower. and President Eisenhower.

McCarthy at the Army Hearings

CensureCensure On 2 December 1954 the Senate voted 67-On 2 December 1954 the Senate voted 67-

22 to censure Senator McCarthy. 22 to censure Senator McCarthy. The Republican leadership stripped The Republican leadership stripped

McCarthy of his committee chairmanship. McCarthy of his committee chairmanship. When the Democrats took control, When the Democrats took control,

McCarthy was marginalized further; when McCarthy was marginalized further; when McCarthy would enter a room, any other McCarthy would enter a room, any other Senators present would leave.Senators present would leave.

McCarthy continued to serve in the McCarthy continued to serve in the Senate until his death in 1957 at the age Senate until his death in 1957 at the age of 49 from complications of alcoholism. of 49 from complications of alcoholism.

Multimedia CitationsMultimedia Citations Slide 3: Slide 3: http://http://

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