the cold war at home: mccarthyism

The Cold War at Home: MCCARTHYISM

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Investigates communist influence

inside and outside the government 1947- investigates the movie

industry “The Hollywood Ten”- did not

cooperate Sent to prison

Blacklist- list of people considered to have communist backgrounds Careers were ruined

Communists at the State Department:

- Hiss had lied under oath, denying that he was a part of a Soviet spy ring that sent U.S. government secrets to the Soviet Union.

- State Department official Alger Hiss was imprisoned for perjury in 1950.

- Americans, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, were accused of stealing nuclear secrets for the Soviets.

- The Rosenbergs were executed for their crimes in 1953.

Example of American fears of Communism:

McCarthy’s reckless claims:

Audio: Senator Joseph McCarthy Responds to E.R. Murrow on CBS's See It Now

· In 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy announced that he had a list of 205 State Department employees that were members of the Communist party.

“McCarthyism” definition

Since 1950s- unfair tactic of accusing people of disloyalty without providing evidence

The Nifty Fifties…

Ike Baby Boom An “affluent” nation Life in the 50s

Suburbs Cars Television Rock n’ Roll Beatniks

Eisenhower (Ike)- 1953-1960

Ike, cont’d

WW2 hero “middle of the road” president Grandfatherly Very popular

Economic growth in 50s

Why??? 1 Federal spending

Roads, houses, schools GI Bill (next slide) Cold War spending

2 Baby boom (3,548,000 “consumers” born in 1950 alone)

3 Increased productivity w/ new technology Computers, nuclear power plants

G.I. Bill

billions of Fed. $ to WW2 veterans Pays for College tuition Cheap loans for homes, businesses,

farms

Baby Boom

“Greatest Generation” grows up in Great Depression (30s), comes of age in WW2 (40s)

1950s?- lots and lots of BABIES!

1950s- Baby Boom

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1930s 1940s 1950s

populationgrowth, inmillions

Growth of Suburbs

“Mass production” of homes GI Bill- cheap loans

50s cars

1956- Interstate Highway Act $250,000,000,000 for highways

Civilians could move out of CITIES MILITARY could quickly move in

event of war Easier to TRANSPORT goods around

country

Television

1946- 17,000 tv’s exist 1950- 7,000,000 sold New era begins

Rock n’ Roll

ELVIS!!! New “Youth Culture”

Beatniks Founders of “counter culture” Reject materialism, shallowness of

50s Sets stage for counterculture of 60’s