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The Cold War at Home

The Cold War at Home. 1947-1955. Essential Questions Ch 18 Sec 3. What did the US Government do to investigate the loyalty of US citizens? What areas of society were targeted? What happened during the Spy Cases and how did they reflect the paranoia of the Red Scare ?

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The Cold War at Home

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  1. The Cold War at Home 1947-1955

  2. Essential Questions Ch 18 Sec 3 • What did the US Government do to investigate the loyalty of US citizens? What areas of society were targeted? • What happened during the Spy Cases and how did they reflect the paranoia of the Red Scare? • What was McCarthyism and why was it controversial? What led to McCarthy’s downfall? • What other anti- Communist measures were enacted during the early 1950’s?

  3. Fears of Communist Influence • The Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, the fall of Red China led many Americans to believe that Communism was spreading around the world in the late 1940’s early 1950’s • FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover estimated that there were 100,000 Americans in the Communist Party • Some feared that Communist had infiltrated the highest levels of US Government

  4. The US Government Acts • The National Security Act of 1947- Established the Department of Defense, the National Security Administration (NSA) and the CIA • Accused of being soft on Communist President Truman set up the Federal Employee Loyalty Program • It was to investigate government employees • From 1947-1951 3.2 million were investigated, 212 were fired and 2,900 resigned • State and municipal programs were enacted as well (6.6 million investigated) • US Attorney General drew up a list of 91 “subversive groups”

  5. The House Un-American Activities Committee • The HUAC was a Congressional Committee that was to investigate Communist activity • In 1947 it targeted the movie industry • 43 “friendly” witnesses from Hollywood were subpoenaed ( Ronald Reagan, Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck) • Some “unfriendly” witnesses were Orsen Wells, and Charlie Chaplin • Even Humphrey Bogart and Lucile Ball received bad publicity

  6. The Hollywood Ten • Ten “Unfriendly witnesses” refused to testify, they thought the hearings were unconstitutional, they were sentenced to prison by the committee (Hollywood Ten) • Hollywood executives instituted a “blacklist” • 500 actors, writers, producers and directors had their careers ruined The blacklist remained in effect until 1960

  7. The McCarran Act • To be even tougher on Communist Congress passed the McCarran Act • Communist organizations must register with the US Gov. • Illegal to plan a totalitarian dictatorship in the US • Communists could be interned during national emergencies • No Communists in Defense Industries • Barred Communist Immigrants to the US • Communists could be deported

  8. Spy Cases Stun the Nation • In 1948 a former Communist spy Whittaker Chambers (Time Magazine Editor) named former State Department Official Alger Hiss of Spying for the USSR

  9. The Hiss Case • Chambers produced micro-film and documents allegedly passed to him from Hiss “The Pumpkin Papers” Hiss denied the charges • Congressman Nixon pursued the charges which increased his popularity • The statue of limitations had ran out on the espionage charge so Hiss was convicted of perjury and sentenced to 5 years in prison, he served 2 years still claiming his innocence

  10. The Rosenbergs • In 1950 Physicist Klaus Fuchs admitted to giving the USSR atomic bomb information • Two minor activist in the American Communist party were implicated in the spy ring, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg • Ethel’s brother David Greenglass worked at Los Alamos • The Rosenbergs claimed they were being Jewish and holding radical beliefs • They were found guilty of espionage and sentenced to death • They were electrocuted on June 19th , 1953

  11. McCarthy’s Witchhunt • Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin first gained prominence by giving a speech in WV in which he claimed he had a list of 200 “Card-carrying communist “ in the State Department

  12. McCarthyism • With the help of his staff assistant and lawyer Roy Cohn McCarthy accused many people of disloyality (Sec of State Dean Acheson and General George C. Marshall) • He accused people without providing evidence, his lists and sources were never revealed • He targeted not only his “egg-sucking phony liberals” but Blacks (Paul Robeson), Jews, Foreign Born and Homosexuals • McCarthy and J. Edgar Hoover attacked “perverted” or “abnormal” orientations

  13. McCarthy’s Downfall • In 1954 McCarthy made accusations against the US Army • During April-June 1954 the Army –McCarthy Hearings allowed 20 million American to witness his bullying and recklessness • Army Attorney Joseph B. Welch shot back • In December 1954 McCarthy was censured for “conduct unbecoming a member of the US Senate” His support was gone • In 1957 McCarthy died from alcoholism a broken man

  14. Damage and other Anti- Communist Measures • Because of McCarthy many repressive federal and state laws remained in effect • Basic freedoms such as freedom of speech and assembly were eroded • Dissent had become dangerous • The US Government investigated union leaders, librarians, teachers, reporters, entertainers, and scientists

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