Global Struggles

Unit 7

The Cold War Begins

The Cold War and American Society Chapter 22 Section 3

A New Red Scare

• The red scare began when a clerk from the Soviet Union left a building carrying documents of information about the atomic bomb

• People began thinking spies were everywhere and they were trying to weaken America’s government

A New Red Scare

• The Loyalty Review Program– Screen all federal employees– This did not calm fears it only made them worse– A person could be thought to be a spy for any

reason• Reading certain books, belonging to certain groups,

traveling overseas, seeing foreign films

A New Red Scare

• House Un-American Activities Committee– Originally formed to investigate both Communists

and Fascists – Was urged to hold public hearings on possible

Communists– The goal was to expose not just communists but

communists sympathizers – FBI• Sent agents to infiltrate groups and wiretapped

thousands of phones

A New Red Scare

• HUAC– Hollywood on Trial • First hearings focused on the idea that communists

might spread their ideas and influence through movies• Ronald Reagan testified before the court that there

were communists in Hollywood• Hollywood Ten – Ten screenwriters used their fifth

amendment right to protect themselves– Blacklist – list of suspected communists in Hollywood– Red Channels – pamphlet that listed blacklisted actors,

directors, broadcasters and screenwriters

The New Red Scare

• HUAC– Alger Hiss • Diplomat who served under FDR• Hiss denied being a spy or part of a communist party• Representative, Richard Nixon, encouraged the actions

of the Committee • Documents were produced secret documents and

microfilm• Hiss was found guilty of perjury

The New Red Scare

• HUAC– The Rosenberg's• People believed that someone had given information

to the Soviets about our atomic bomb• A British scientist admitted to sending information to

the Soviet Union• Police arrested Julius and Ethel Rosenberg – a New

York couple who belonged to a communist party• The couple was sentenced to death for espionage

The New Red Scare

• The Red Scare Spreads– Many state and local governments began their

own efforts to find communists– The University of California required its members

to take loyalty oaths and fired those who refused– Catholic Churches urged their members to identify

Communists within the church

McCarthyism

• Soviet Union testing an atomic bomb and China falling to Communism made some Americans believe we were losing the Cold War

• McCarthy told the senate that he had a list of names of anyone who was a Communist in the United States – When reporters asked to see the list McCarthy

replied by saying it was in his bag on the plane• The list was never produced

McCarthyism

• McCarthy ran for senate in 1946 and he accused his opponent of being connected with Communism – There was never any proof but it did help him win

the seat

• Once in office McCarthy began pointing out communists – George C Marshall – Former secretary of state

McCarthyism

• The McCarran Act– Made it illegal to combine, conspire or agree with

any one performing any act that would contribute to a Communist government

– Required all Communist Parties to publish their records and register with the Attorney General

– Communists could not get a passport – Truman vetoed the bill but Congress overrode the

veto

McCarthyism

• McCarthy’s Tactics– Chairmen of the Senate subcommittee on

investigations– Turned the investigations into a witch hunt– McCarthyism – tactic of ruining reputations with

vague charges– When questioning witnesses McCarthy would

badger them and then refuse their answer– People were afraid to challenge him for fear of

becoming a target

McCarthyism

• McCarthy’s Downfall– McCarthy turned to the US Army to look for

Communists– McCarthy decided to go after the Army’s lawyer

• Joseph Welch was the Army Lawyer• McCarthy accused Welch’s law partner of belonging to a

communist front organization when he was in law school• Welch struck back at McCarthy asking him if he had no

decency left

– Censure – Formal Disapproval• Senate voted for this to be placed against McCarthy

Life During the Early Cold War

• Facing the Bomb– The Soviets tested a successful H-Bomb – The US had tested their H-Bomb a year earlier– Schools set aside special drills • Duck and Cover• It may have allowed people to feel safe but it would

not protect them• According to experts for every one person that dies 4

more will die later from fallout (radiation left by blast)• Some Families built fallout shelters stocked with food

Popular Culture in the Cold War

• The Crucible – Arthur Miller– Cautionary tale of how hysteria can lead to false

accusations

• I was a Communist for the FBI– FBI undercover agent who infiltrated the

Communist Party

• Radio – Atomic Boogie – Atom Bomb Baby

Popular Culture in the Cold War

• Tomorrow!• Horrific effects of a city in America that is

unprepared for a nuclear war

• Hiroshima – Provided first hand accounts of six survivors – Made people question the decision to drop the

atomic bomb