The McCarthy EraThe McCarthy Era

An Era of SuspicionAn Era of Suspicion

House of UnAmerican Activities House of UnAmerican Activities CommitteeCommittee

FILMS HAD POWER TO CORRUPT FILMS HAD POWER TO CORRUPT AMERICAN PEOPLEAMERICAN PEOPLE

BEGAN INVESTIGATING FILM INDUSTRY BEGAN INVESTIGATING FILM INDUSTRY FOR DISLOYALTYFOR DISLOYALTY

““HOLLYWOOD 10”HOLLYWOOD 10”– WRITERS, ACTORS, DIRECTORS, AND WRITERS, ACTORS, DIRECTORS, AND

PRODUCERS JAILED FOR CONTEMPT.PRODUCERS JAILED FOR CONTEMPT.– ALL DISCHARGED WHEN THEY ALL DISCHARGED WHEN THEY

REFUSED TO ANSWER COMMITTEE REFUSED TO ANSWER COMMITTEE QUESTIONS.QUESTIONS.

WHO WAS IN CHARGE?WHO WAS IN CHARGE?

CHAIRMAN: J. Parnell ThomasCHAIRMAN: J. Parnell Thomas ASKS THEM:ASKS THEM:

– ““ARE YOU KNOW OR HAVE YOU ARE YOU KNOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A MEMBER OF THE EVER BEEN A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY?”COMMUNIST PARTY?”

JOSEPH McCARTHYJOSEPH McCARTHY

Came to Power in the SENATECame to Power in the SENATEAccused many gov’t employees Accused many gov’t employees

of being of being COMMUNISTSCOMMUNISTSAmerican People support him American People support him

out of out of FEARFEARWant communits out of gov’t Want communits out of gov’t

positions.positions.

LEGACY OF HUAC & THE LEGACY OF HUAC & THE McCARTHY HEARINGSMcCARTHY HEARINGS

HUNDREDS OF GOV’T HUNDREDS OF GOV’T WORKERS LOSE THEIR JOBS.WORKERS LOSE THEIR JOBS.

MANY IN THE ENTERAINMENT MANY IN THE ENTERAINMENT INDUSTRY BECOME INDUSTRY BECOME “BLACKLISTED”“BLACKLISTED”

AGE OF SUPPRESSION OF AGE OF SUPPRESSION OF IDEAS & OPEN DISCUSSIONIDEAS & OPEN DISCUSSION

WHY?WHY?Why were Americans willing to Why were Americans willing to

suspend the Bill of Rights to fight suspend the Bill of Rights to fight Communism?Communism?

What were they afraid of?What were they afraid of?What were they trying to protect?What were they trying to protect?What did fear drive some What did fear drive some

Americans to do?Americans to do?

FEARFEAR

OF NUCLEAR OF NUCLEAR ATTACKATTACK

COMUNIST COMUNIST TAKE OVERTAKE OVER

COMMUNISTS COMMUNISTS INFILTRATING INFILTRATING GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

MEET THE ROSENBERGSMEET THE ROSENBERGS

WHY WERE THEY WHY WERE THEY ARRESTED?ARRESTED?

Former members Former members of the U.S. of the U.S. Communist PartyCommunist Party

Inactive for some Inactive for some time.time.

Accused of Accused of espionage (giving espionage (giving Soviets the secrets Soviets the secrets to the A-Bomb)to the A-Bomb)

Rosenberg's cont..Rosenberg's cont..

Both denied the Both denied the charges & claimed charges & claimed that they were that they were being targeted being targeted because they were because they were Jewish.Jewish.

Died by electric Died by electric chair in 1953.chair in 1953.

First “spies” to be First “spies” to be killed.killed.

DOWNFALL OF HUACDOWNFALL OF HUAC

McCarthy becomes recklessMcCarthy becomes reckless Makes wild accusations against Makes wild accusations against

ARMY REPS.ARMY REPS. Hearings are televised for 36 Days.Hearings are televised for 36 Days. By April 1954, Public is FED UPBy April 1954, Public is FED UP Stays in SENATE, yet loses his Stays in SENATE, yet loses his

power and dies in 1957.power and dies in 1957.