the hysteria of the second red scare

The Hysteria of the The Hysteria of the

Second Red ScareSecond Red Scare

The Hysteria of the The Hysteria of the

Second Red ScareSecond Red Scare

AP United States AP United States HistoryHistory

Unit 9 Cold War & Conformity Unit 9 Cold War & Conformity in the 1950sin the 1950s

Search for Internal SecuritySearch for Internal Security• Loyalty and conformityLoyalty and conformity to the wishes of the country a must for the to the wishes of the country a must for the

government and society for many Americans.government and society for many Americans.– Were highly Were highly suspicious suspicious of anything or anyone considered different.of anything or anyone considered different.– Regarded people with different opinions as a Regarded people with different opinions as a pinko, commie, or un-Americanpinko, commie, or un-American..– Only way to measure loyalty was the Only way to measure loyalty was the intensity and consistencyintensity and consistency of a person’s of a person’s

anti-Communismanti-Communism.. – Result: a Result: a witch-huntwitch-hunt to root out suspected Communists from every aspect of to root out suspected Communists from every aspect of

society.society.

Typical American Family in the 1950s

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/01_05/spenderold2801_468x314.jpg

Basic CharacteristicsBasic CharacteristicsTruman’s Foreign PolicyTruman’s Foreign Policy

• Truman’s foreign policy Truman’s foreign policy plays on these plays on these sentiments.sentiments.– Reinforced the traditional Reinforced the traditional

fears of the fears of the Soviets and Soviets and communismcommunism..

– Uncovered spy rings in Uncovered spy rings in Canada, Britain, and other Canada, Britain, and other nations confirm suspicions nations confirm suspicions about the Soviet Union’s about the Soviet Union’s intent: intent: total world total world domination through the domination through the subversion of existing subversion of existing governmentsgovernments. .

POTUS Harry S Truman In Masonic Garb

http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/10,000_famous_freemasons/images/harry_s_truman_pgm_missouri_1.jpg

Basic CharacteristicsBasic CharacteristicsTruman’s Foreign PolicyTruman’s Foreign Policy

• Cabinet members make Cabinet members make speeches that state that speeches that state that communists were everywhere in communists were everywhere in America and could be anybody.America and could be anybody.– Basic message: Basic message: TRUST TRUST

NOBODYNOBODY..

– Wanted people to turn in Wanted people to turn in people they suspected of people they suspected of associating or sympathizing associating or sympathizing with communism.with communism.

– Special targets placed on Special targets placed on college campuses, Hollywood, college campuses, Hollywood, publishing companies, and publishing companies, and editorial staffseditorial staffs. .

The Redolutionhttp://eatemandbeatem.com/redScare.jpg

Basic CharacteristicsBasic CharacteristicsAmerican Communist PartyAmerican Communist Party

• Activities limited and Activities limited and power weakened to the power weakened to the vigilant mentality of vigilant mentality of many Americans.many Americans.

• Scandals involving Scandals involving suspected American suspected American communists revolved communists revolved around their around their activities activities during the Great during the Great DepressionDepression. .

Communist Party of America http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl

Pre-McCarthy McCarthyismPre-McCarthy McCarthyismLoyalty Review BoardLoyalty Review Board, Mar 1947, Mar 1947

• Full-scale “Full-scale “loyalty investigationloyalty investigation” of all present and ” of all present and prospective prospective federal employeesfederal employees..

• No source of information, no matter how inaccurate or No source of information, no matter how inaccurate or questionable, was to be ignored.questionable, was to be ignored.

• The The Central Master IndexCentral Master Index..– A compilation of all collected loyalty dataA compilation of all collected loyalty data..– An employee or prospective employee An employee or prospective employee could be removed or could be removed or

refused hirerefused hire if they had “if they had “sympathetic associationsympathetic association” with any ” with any foreign or domestic organization foreign or domestic organization designated by the attorney designated by the attorney general as “subversive.”general as “subversive.”

• Impact of the LRB.Impact of the LRB.– Business organizations, labor unions, and the governmentBusiness organizations, labor unions, and the government

would use the list to fire or deny hiring employees.would use the list to fire or deny hiring employees.– Laid the ground work for the new Red Scare and the Laid the ground work for the new Red Scare and the witch witch

hunts of HUAC and Senator Joseph McCarthyhunts of HUAC and Senator Joseph McCarthy..

Pre-McCarthy McCarthyismPre-McCarthy McCarthyismHUACHUAC

((House Un-American Activities CommitteeHouse Un-American Activities Committee))

• Origins.Origins.– Originally founded in 1938 Originally founded in 1938

during the New Deal as a during the New Deal as a temporary investigations temporary investigations unit.unit.

– Fell out of favor in World Fell out of favor in World War II, but was revived by War II, but was revived by newly-elected Congressman newly-elected Congressman Richard NixonRichard Nixon of CA.of CA.

– Would serve to destroy the Would serve to destroy the lives of lives of suspected suspected CommunistsCommunists and and advance advance the political careersthe political careers of key of key individual politicians.individual politicians.

Richard Nixon (Right) In His HUAC Days

http://jeremayakovka.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/07/11/nixon_stripling.jpg

Pre-McCarthy McCarthyismPre-McCarthy McCarthyismHUAC HUAC

(House Un-American Activities Committee)(House Un-American Activities Committee)

• Purpose.Purpose.– Search for suspected Communists, root them out, Search for suspected Communists, root them out,

and investigate the extent of their infiltrationand investigate the extent of their infiltration. .

Members of HUAC http://www.billmandel.net/i/huac_members.jpg



• How HUAC functioned.How HUAC functioned.– Manipulated various channels of Manipulated various channels of

publicity to reveal the political publicity to reveal the political associationsassociations of individuals who of individuals who had unorthodox ideals and had unorthodox ideals and ostracize them from positions of ostracize them from positions of powerpower..

– Threatened and manipulated Threatened and manipulated witnesseswitnesses..• As a result, many would tell As a result, many would tell

lies in order to save their own lies in order to save their own skin.skin.

• Refusal to answer questions or Refusal to answer questions or cooperatecooperate was similar to an was similar to an admission of guiltadmission of guilt. .

Political Cartoon Criticizing HUAC Methods

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAhuac.JPG



• The The Hollywood ScandalsHollywood Scandals of October, 1947.of October, 1947.– Wanted to “expose those Wanted to “expose those

elements that are elements that are insidiously trying to…insidiously trying to…poison the minds of your poison the minds of your children, distort the children, distort the history of our country, and history of our country, and discredit Christianity.”discredit Christianity.”

– Was a failure in its attempt Was a failure in its attempt to prove Communist to prove Communist influence in the film influence in the film industry. industry.

Prominent Actors & Writers Protesting the Hollywood Ten Scandalshttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2346/2018958027_f09c48d75e_o.jpg



• What it did do:What it did do:– Frightened movie, television, Frightened movie, television,

and radio executivesand radio executives into into doing a housecleaning.doing a housecleaning.

– BlacklistedBlacklisted actors, actresses, actors, actresses, writers, and directors who writers, and directors who were were suspected of having suspected of having Communist sympathiesCommunist sympathies..

– Forced the movie, television, Forced the movie, television, radio, comic book, and radio, comic book, and newspaper industries to newspaper industries to set set strict standardsstrict standards, many of , many of which would last into the which would last into the Eighties. Eighties.

Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall Leading An Actors Protest Against HUAChttp://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/childs1/OutlineSecond%20Red%20Scare_files/image001.jpg



• Whittaker ChambersWhittaker Chambers..– Former member of the Former member of the

Communist party, quit Communist party, quit in 1937.in 1937.

– When interviewed by When interviewed by HUAC, he was HUAC, he was one of one of the top editors at Time the top editors at Time magazinemagazine..• Was still in contact with Was still in contact with

many of his former many of his former friends who now held friends who now held positions of power in positions of power in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

Whittaker Chambers Giving Testimony At HUAC Hearings

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/hiss/chambersHUAC1.jpg



• Alger HissAlger Hiss..– Former associate of Former associate of

Chambers, was an Chambers, was an official official in the State Departmentin the State Department during the New Deal and during the New Deal and the early years of World the early years of World War II.War II.

– President of the Carnegie President of the Carnegie Endowment for Endowment for International PeaceInternational Peace, one , one of the world’s richest of the world’s richest philanthropic institute, philanthropic institute, since 1947.since 1947.

– Accused by Chambers of Accused by Chambers of still being a Communist. still being a Communist.

Alger Hiss Swearing To Tell The Truth Before the HUAC Hearings

http://southdakotapolitics.blogs.com/south_dakota_politics/images/alger_hiss_takes_oath.jpg


(House Un-American Activities Committee)(House Un-American Activities Committee)• Alger Hiss.Alger Hiss.

– Hiss denies the accusations and Hiss denies the accusations and demands to have a hearing by demands to have a hearing by HUAC.HUAC.

– Chambers is reexamined and Chambers is reexamined and details are brought out concerning details are brought out concerning the activities of Chambers and the activities of Chambers and Hiss.Hiss.

– Hiss and Chambers Hiss and Chambers were involved were involved in a Soviet spy ringin a Soviet spy ring..

– Hiss was Hiss was passing classified passing classified government documents to the government documents to the SovietsSoviets..

– Hiss denies involvement.Hiss denies involvement.– HUAC does not buy it, sentences HUAC does not buy it, sentences

Hiss to five years in prison and a Hiss to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for perjury. $10,000 fine for perjury.

Chambers Reading Of The Decision Of HUAC On Alger Hiss

http://www.authentichistory.com/1950s/speeches/images/19500123_Whittaker_Chambers.jpg



• Impact.Impact.– Would further uphold the Would further uphold the

belief that belief that privileged, privileged, high-positioned high-positioned individualsindividuals had had betrayed betrayed the countrythe country..

– HUAC would gain HUAC would gain support from established support from established Americas, as well as Americas, as well as Irish, Italian, and Polish Irish, Italian, and Polish immigrants in the immigrants in the Midwest. Midwest. Criticism Of HUAC

http://www.moderntimes.com/blacklist/image/huac.jpg

Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthyMcCarthyism DefinedMcCarthyism Defined

• An expression for wild, unfounded charges of disloyaltyAn expression for wild, unfounded charges of disloyalty..– Basically conducted as a witch hunt. Basically conducted as a witch hunt.

McCarthy Campaigning For A Senate Seat

http://www.faculty.umb.edu/hannah_sevian/G660/TechPres/Fall2003/McCarthyism_files/image002.jpg

Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthyMcCarthy: Rise To PowerMcCarthy: Rise To Power

• Wheeling SpeechWheeling Speech, , February 9, 1950.February 9, 1950.– Declared that the United Declared that the United

States had emerged from States had emerged from World War II as the World War II as the strongest nation in the strongest nation in the world.world.

– Believed that it had been Believed that it had been weakened in recent years weakened in recent years ““because of the traitorous because of the traitorous actions of those who have actions of those who have been treated so well by been treated so well by this nationthis nation.” .”

McCarthy With “The List”http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAmccarthy3.jpg

Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthyMcCarthy: Rise To PowerMcCarthy: Rise To Power

• Wheeling Speech, (Cont.).Wheeling Speech, (Cont.).– None were worse than “those None were worse than “those

bright young men” in the bright young men” in the State State DepartmentDepartment “born silver spoons in “born silver spoons in their mouths.”their mouths.”• Blames the Blames the privileged, educated New privileged, educated New

DealersDealers brought in by brought in by FDRFDR..

– ““I have in my hand the names of I have in my hand the names of 205 men that were known to the 205 men that were known to the Secretary of State as being Secretary of State as being members of the Communist party members of the Communist party and who nevertheless are still and who nevertheless are still working and shaping the policy of working and shaping the policy of the State Department.”the State Department.”• Never substantiated a single name, Never substantiated a single name,

but increased the accusationsbut increased the accusations. .

McCarthy Delivering Wheeling Speech

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/feature/mccarthy/images/WHS_Image_ID_8006.jpg

Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthyMcCarthy: Stroke of Luck--SpiesMcCarthy: Stroke of Luck--Spies

• Klaus FuchsKlaus Fuchs..– German-born nuclear German-born nuclear

physicist who worked on physicist who worked on the atomic bomb at the atomic bomb at Los Los AlamosAlamos..

– Was passing secrets to the Was passing secrets to the Russians.Russians.

– Arrested by the British, Arrested by the British, sentenced to four years in sentenced to four years in prison for espionage, and prison for espionage, and implicated other American implicated other American Communists in his Communists in his activities, including activities, including officials in the American officials in the American government. government.

Klaus Fuchs ID Badge At Los Alamos

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Klaus_Fuchs_ID_badge.png

Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthyMcCarthy: Stroke of Luck--SpiesMcCarthy: Stroke of Luck--Spies

• Ethel and Julius Ethel and Julius RosenbergRosenberg..– Charged with Charged with passing passing

atomic secrets and atomic secrets and speeding up Russian speeding up Russian success with the atomic success with the atomic bombbomb..

– Judge declared the Judge declared the crime “crime “worse than worse than murdermurder.”.”

– Rosenbergs Rosenbergs sentenced sentenced to death and executedto death and executed in in 1953. 1953.

Ethel & Julius Rosenberg Awaiting Executionhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Julius_and_Ethel_Rosenberg_NYWTS.jpg

Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthyMcCarthy: Picks Up SteamMcCarthy: Picks Up Steam

• McCarthy supports McCarthy supports General MacArthurGeneral MacArthur following his dismissal by following his dismissal by Truman.Truman.

• Attacks Attacks General Marshall General Marshall and General Eisenhowerand General Eisenhower, , accusing them of accusing them of “being “being soft”soft” on Communists in on Communists in the military.the military.– Some Americans felt Some Americans felt

McCarthy had gone too far, McCarthy had gone too far, but money kept pouring but money kept pouring into McCarthy’s election into McCarthy’s election coffers. coffers.

General Douglas MacArthurhttp://splinteredsunrise.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/douglas_macarthur.jpg

Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthyMcCarran Acts, 1952McCarran Acts, 1952

• McCarran Internal Security ActMcCarran Internal Security Act..– Made it unlawful to conspire to establish a Made it unlawful to conspire to establish a

totalitarian dictatorshiptotalitarian dictatorship..

– All All “communist-action” and “communist front”“communist-action” and “communist front” organizations were assumed to be such organizations were assumed to be such conspiracies.conspiracies.• Required to register all members and meeting notesRequired to register all members and meeting notes

with the Attorney General.with the Attorney General.

– Gave the president the power to Gave the president the power to arrest and arrest and detain detain anyany person person that would that would “probably” “probably” engageengage in acts of in acts of espionage and sabotageespionage and sabotage..


• Truman’s response.Truman’s response.– Vetoes the bill, calling it Vetoes the bill, calling it

““the greatest danger to the greatest danger to freedom of speech, press, freedom of speech, press, and assembly since the and assembly since the alien and sedition acts of alien and sedition acts of 17981798.”.”

– Believed it was Believed it was actually a actually a step towards the step towards the totalitarianismtotalitarianism it was meant it was meant to combat.to combat.

• Congress overrides the Congress overrides the veto. veto.

POTUS Harry S Trumanhttp://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/7/73/180px-Truman_initiating_Korean_involvement.jpg


• McCarran-Walter Immigration McCarran-Walter Immigration ActAct..– Again passed over Truman’s veto.Again passed over Truman’s veto.– Empowered the Attorney General Empowered the Attorney General

to to screen out subversivesscreen out subversives within within the permitted quotas and also the permitted quotas and also allowed the Attorney General to allowed the Attorney General to deport them even after they deport them even after they became naturalized citizensbecame naturalized citizens. .

• Impact.Impact.– Intensified America’s Intensified America’s

preoccupation with internal preoccupation with internal security.security.

– Increases American xenophobia.Increases American xenophobia.– Supported McCarthy’s unfounded Supported McCarthy’s unfounded

claims. claims.

Criticism Of McCarthyismhttp://content.screencast.com/media/

Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthyDecline of McCarthyism, 1953-55Decline of McCarthyism, 1953-55

• Attack on Ambassador Attack on Ambassador Charles E. Bohlen.Charles E. Bohlen.– Good friend of President Good friend of President

Eisenhower, served as FDR’s Eisenhower, served as FDR’s interpreter at Yalta.interpreter at Yalta.

– Received the “consent” of Received the “consent” of McCarthy after a vicious McCarthy after a vicious character assassination and character assassination and lobbying by McCarthy to lobbying by McCarthy to appoint the new State appoint the new State Department “security Department “security officer.”officer.”

Charles E. Bohlenhttp://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/1/1a/

196px-Charles_Bohlen.png


• International Information International Information Administration.Administration.– Branch of the State Department Branch of the State Department

responsible for disseminating responsible for disseminating printed materialsprinted materials to other to other countries.countries.

• Failed to uncover a single Failed to uncover a single Communist, but many books, Communist, but many books, including those of prominent including those of prominent American writers American writers Hemingway Hemingway and Fitzgeraldand Fitzgerald, were , were withdrawn and some publicly withdrawn and some publicly burnedburned..– Shocked many Americans who Shocked many Americans who

were tiring of McCarthy’s Nazi-were tiring of McCarthy’s Nazi-style tactics. style tactics.

Book Burning In The U.S.http://www.911familiesforamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/

2007/05/nazi-book-burning-1933.jpg


• Army-McCarthy HearingsArmy-McCarthy Hearings..– McCarthy accuses the U.S. McCarthy accuses the U.S.

Army of Army of “coddling” “coddling” CommunistsCommunists in the U.S.in the U.S.

– Also questions the loyalty Also questions the loyalty and integrity of several top and integrity of several top generals.generals.• First time many Americans First time many Americans

actually witnessed actually witnessed McCarthy’s wild accusations.McCarthy’s wild accusations.

• Very offensiveVery offensive to the viewing to the viewing audience, Army officials, and audience, Army officials, and his fellow Senators. his fellow Senators.

Americans Watching The Army-McCarthy Hearings At A Television Store

http://www2.jsonline.com/news/2000/y2k/ourcentury/images/CENTURY-MCCARTHY2.jpg


• Army-McCarthy Hearings.Army-McCarthy Hearings.– Result: Senate Result: Senate officially condemns McCarthy for “conduct officially condemns McCarthy for “conduct

unbecoming a member of the United States Senate.”unbecoming a member of the United States Senate.”– McCarthy’s power would decline until his death in 1957 McCarthy’s power would decline until his death in 1957

from alcoholism. from alcoholism.

Army-McCarthy Hearingshttp://cache.viewimages.com/xc/51649986.jpg?

Arthur Miller: Arthur Miller: The CrucibleThe CrucibleBackground of Arthur MillerBackground of Arthur Miller

• One of Marilyn Monroe’s One of Marilyn Monroe’s ex-husbands.ex-husbands.

• Noted playwright and Noted playwright and author, works included author, works included The Man Who Had All The Man Who Had All the Luck the Luck (1944), (1944), All My All My SonsSons (1944), (1944), The Story The Story of GI Joeof GI Joe (1945), (1945), FocusFocus (1945), (1945), Death of a Death of a SalesmanSalesman (1949), and (1949), and The CrucibleThe Crucible (1953). (1953).

Arthur Miller & Marilyn Monroe

http://www.un-scripted.com/blogs/alan/uploaded_images/Miller-727882.jpg

Arthur Miller: Arthur Miller: The CrucibleThe CrucibleBackground of Arthur MillerBackground of Arthur Miller

• Called before HUAC in the early 1940s Called before HUAC in the early 1940s along with writer along with writer Eliz KazanEliz Kazan..– Answered HUAC’s questions Answered HUAC’s questions

concerning his own activities.concerning his own activities.– Had attended a few writers’ meetings Had attended a few writers’ meetings

sponsored by the Communist party in sponsored by the Communist party in 1947, but did not join the party.1947, but did not join the party.

– Supported a peace conference held at Supported a peace conference held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, where he signed many appeals and where he signed many appeals and protests to the Korean War.protests to the Korean War.

– Refused to name othersRefused to name others who he knew who he knew associated with leftist or Communist associated with leftist or Communist organizations. Felt that their political organizations. Felt that their political views were none of his or the views were none of his or the government’s business. Cited for government’s business. Cited for contempt of Congress, but overturned. contempt of Congress, but overturned.

Arthur Miller Testifying In Front Of HUAC

http://www.ucm.es/info/FInglesa/ArthurMillerHUAC.jpg

Arthur Miller: Arthur Miller: The CrucibleThe CrucibleThe CrucibleThe Crucible

• Based on court Based on court records and records and historical historical personages from personages from the the Salem Witch Salem Witch Trials of 1692Trials of 1692..– Discussed how Discussed how

persecution and persecution and unfounded unfounded accusations can accusations can affect humanityaffect humanity. .

Scene From The 1996 Film Version Of The Crucible

http://www.witchvox.com/media/media_images/crucible3.jpg

Arthur Miller: Arthur Miller: The CrucibleThe CrucibleThe CrucibleThe Crucible

• Was an Was an allegory for the allegory for the McCarthy era and mass McCarthy era and mass hysteriahysteria..– According to Miller, the play According to Miller, the play

was written in an was written in an atmosphere that “atmosphere that “accepted accepted the notion that conscience the notion that conscience was no longer a private was no longer a private matter, but one of state matter, but one of state administrationadministration.”.”

– Expresses his faith in the Expresses his faith in the ability of an individual to ability of an individual to resist conformist pressuresresist conformist pressures. .

Cover To The Cruciblehttp://img47.imageshack.us/img47/6323/thecrucibleev5.jpg

the hysteria of the second red scare

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