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Chapter 26 – Section 3: The Cold War at Home

Chapter 26 – Section 3: The Cold War at Home. v s. Communism: The Ultimate Disease. Many Americans become terrified of Communists Communist ideology is like a disease People didn’t seek proof Wild accusations were made Caused by the fall of Eastern Europe and China

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Chapter 26 – Section 3: The Cold War at Home

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  1. Chapter 26 – Section 3:The Cold War at Home vs.

  2. Communism: The Ultimate Disease • Many Americans become terrified of Communists • Communist ideology is like a disease • People didn’t seek proof • Wild accusations were made • Caused by the fall of Eastern Europe and China • At its pinnacle, the American Communist Party had 80,000 members

  3. The Public Criticizes Truman • Truman is viewed as soft on Communism • Truman “gave away” Eastern Europe • Attacks come from the Republican party • In March of 1947, he responds • Federal Employee Loyalty Program • Loyalty Review Board • Purpose was to investigate federal employees

  4. The Loyalty Review Board • Attorney General lists 91 subversive organizations • Between 1947 and 1951 3.2 million employees were investigated • Further review could occur before a board • 27,000 full scale investigations • 212 dismissals • 2,900 more dismissed • Truman now uses anti-communist fervor to gain support for his money programs

  5. Fear of Social Change • Communist fear lead to fear of changes in other aspects of society • Feared the changing of gender roles • Role of Women • The Civil Rights Movement was suspected of being Communist

  6. House Un-American Activities Council • Had its roots in the Overman and Fish Committees • Investigated Germans, Bolsheviks, and Communists • Dies Committee in 1938 chaired by Martin Dies • Guilt by association • Used ex-members of organizations as snitches • They found 563 names on a leftist mailing list • An additional 1,000 were sympathetic to totalitarian regimes

  7. HUAC Attacks Hollywood • Thought there was communist propaganda in movies • HUAC calls 43 witnesses in September of 1947 • Most “friendly” • Ten “unfriendly” • Hollywood responds with a “blacklist” • Hollywood begins to pump out tons of anti-communist movies

  8. The McCarran Act and Its Impact • Sought to punish communist ideas • Made it illegal to plan an overthrow • Required organizations to register with the AG • Americans could lose citizenship • Truman vetoes the McCarran Act • Congress passes the law over his veto • Kind of like the Patriot Act of the 1950s

  9. Spies? In America? • In 1945 the Amerasia is accused of spying • Editor pleads guilty • In 1948 Alger Hiss is accused of spying • Whittaker Chambers claims to have microfilm • They convict him on charges of perjury • Served 44 months in a federal prison • Declassified information points to his guilt

  10. Other Spy Cases • In October of 1949, eleven leaders of the American Communist Party are convicted • In 1950 Judith Coplon is convicted • One of the first major convictions • Worked in the Justice Department • FBI figured out what she was going • Set her up using fake documents

  11. The Rosenberg’s: A Spy Case that Rattles the Nation • Soviet Union detonates their “bomb” in September of 1949 • Klaus Fuchs had been passing secrets to Soviets • Fuchs admits to giving away information • Implicates Julius and Ethel Rosenberg • Found guilty and sentenced to death • Executed by electric chair in June of 1953

  12. Other Cold War Spy Cases • Aldrich Ames is convicted in 1994 • Named American assets • Robert Hanssen pleads guilty in 2001 • Sold out American spies • Neither received the death penalty

  13. The Witch Hunt Begins • Joseph McCarthy is a Wisconsin Senator • Not a very good one • Decides to play on fears in America • Starts to throw out wild accusations • In no way supported by fact • This comes to be known as McCarthyism • Accusing someone without proof

  14. The Witch Hunt Begins • February 9, 1950, Wheeling, West Virginia • Speech to Republican Women’s Club • Claims to have a piece of paper with names • Number of names varies • Distorts information to the Senate • Republicans don’t try and stop him • He now makes a grave mistake

  15. McCarthy Accuses the Army • Accuses members of the Army • Results in nationally televised hearings • Bullies witnesses • Appears dishonest • McCarthy falls from favor after the hearings • McCarthy upsets everyone in four years • Dies of alcoholism three years later • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO2iiovYq70

  16. Impact of McCarthyism • Distrust in the people around you • McCarthyism is alive and well today • Instead of communism, we fear terrorism • We question the patriotism of people • We eliminate rights in the name of national security

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