The Early Cold War: 1945-1953 The Early Cold War: 1945-1953 The Cold War at Home.

The EarlyCold War:1945-1953


The Cold War at HomeThe Cold War at Home

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Fallout_shelter.jpg



• Great Depression– 100,000 in communist

party– 20,000 by late 1940’s

• Great Depression– 100,000 in communist

party– 20,000 by late 1940’s

Communism in AmericaCommunism in AmericaCommunism in AmericaCommunism in America



Soviet Atomic Weapons

• In September 1949 Truman announced that the Soviet Union had detonated an atomic bomb.

• This was a shock to the nation.

• Truman began to strengthen the nation’s military against a possible Soviet nuclear threat.

Communist China• Communists in China had

gained nearly full control of the country.

• The Nationalist government (supported by U.S.) of Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan

• China now controlled by Communist Party under the leadership of Mao Zedong.

• Americans worried that China increased the Communist threat to the U.S.

Growing Fear of CommunismGrowing Fear of Communism



• President Truman felt he had to take action.

• Created a plan to investigate all federal employees and bar those were found to be disloyal from federal employment.– 3 million people

investigated– 212 found to be disloyal

Fighting Communism Fighting Communism at Homeat Home




• Spy cases fueled fear of communism

• Alger Hiss - accused of being part of 1930’s plot to place Communists inside the government

•Couldn’t be charged with spying

• Later convicted for lying under oath

• Spy cases fueled fear of communism

• Alger Hiss - accused of being part of 1930’s plot to place Communists inside the government

•Couldn’t be charged with spying

• Later convicted for lying under oath

Spies in America?Spies in America?Spies in America?Spies in America?



Klaus Fuchs

• Manhattan Project scientist who gave atomic bomb information to the Soviets

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg

• Accused leading a spy ring

• Convicted of conspiracy and executed in 1953

Spies in America?Spies in America?Spies in America?Spies in America?





The Smith ActThe Smith Act

• Passed in 1940• Made it a crime to call

for the overthrow of the U.S. government or belong to an organization that did so

• Upheld by court in 1951 Dennis vs. U.S.– Justified limits on free

speech

• Communist officials convicted

• Passed in 1940• Made it a crime to call

for the overthrow of the U.S. government or belong to an organization that did so

• Upheld by court in 1951 Dennis vs. U.S.– Justified limits on free

speech

• Communist officials convicted

The McCarran ActThe McCarran Act

• Passed in 1950• Required communist

organizations to register with the U.S. government

• Established a board to investigate Communist involvement

• Prevented communists and radicals from entering U.S.

• Passed in 1950• Required communist

organizations to register with the U.S. government

• Established a board to investigate Communist involvement

• Prevented communists and radicals from entering U.S.



House Un-American Activities Committee investigated radical

groups in the United States

Focused on battling communism

Created in the 1930’s

Most famous investigation HUAC collected names of 10 Hollywood

writers and directors thought to have radical political views

The “Hollywood Ten” refused to answer questions and were arrested for contempt

House Un-American Activities Committee investigated radical

groups in the United States

Focused on battling communism

Created in the 1930’s

Most famous investigation HUAC collected names of 10 Hollywood

writers and directors thought to have radical political views

The “Hollywood Ten” refused to answer questions and were arrested for contempt

22ndnd Red Scare Red Scare


The EarlyCold War:1945-1953Herbert Biberman,

Martin Popper, Robert W. Kenny, Albert Maltz,

Lester Cole, Dalton Trumbo, John Howard Lawson, Alvah Bessie, Samuel Ornitz, Ring Lardner Jr., Edward

Dmytryk, Adrian Scott.

““Hollywood Ten”Hollywood Ten”““Hollywood Ten”Hollywood Ten”



““A conspiracy so immense”A conspiracy so immense”““A conspiracy so immense”A conspiracy so immense”

• McCarthy claimed that there were 205 known Communists working for the U.S. Department of State

• Though evidence proved otherwise, his accusations stirred fear in many Americans

• Became famous for “fighting” Communism• His tactic of spreading fear and making baseless

charges became known as “McCarthyism”

• McCarthy claimed that there were 205 known Communists working for the U.S. Department of State

• Though evidence proved otherwise, his accusations stirred fear in many Americans

• Became famous for “fighting” Communism• His tactic of spreading fear and making baseless

charges became known as “McCarthyism”



• Became even more wild with his charges

• Attacked fellow Republicans and the U.S. Army

• Public came to view his tactics as unfair.

• Became even more wild with his charges

• Attacked fellow Republicans and the U.S. Army

• Public came to view his tactics as unfair.

McCarthy’s FallMcCarthy’s FallMcCarthy’s FallMcCarthy’s Fall

• Communism and the threat of the atomic bomb dominated life in the 1950s

• Fallout (radiation left over from an atomic blast)

• Americans began to build fallout shelters

Life during the Cold WarLife during the Cold WarLife during the Cold WarLife during the Cold War



Nuclear PreparednessNuclear PreparednessNuclear PreparednessNuclear Preparedness

The “Kidde Kakoon” came equipped for a 3-5 day underground stay, including a chemical toilet, nonelectric clock, canned food and water, protective apparel, and pick-and-shovel tool (“for digging out after the blast”)

School children practicing “duck and cover”

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The Early Cold War: 1945-1953 The Early Cold War: 1945-1953 The Cold War at Home.

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