What Caused the Red Scare?

1. What Caused the Red Scare? • Fall of China-Who is to blame? • The Soviet Bomb • The Korean War • The Cold War: Communism vs. Capitalism

2. Soft on Communism?

3. Federal Loyalty Program-1947 • 1947 - In an effort to shield itself from Republican attacks, the Truman administration began a widely publicized program to review the loyalty of federal employees • 1950 – Truman approved agencies to fire people believed to have no more than “bad security risks” • 1951 – Over 2,000 government employees resigned under pressure and 212 were discharged

5. House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)-1947 • In search of an issue to attack the Democratic party, the Republican-controlled Congress established the House of Un-American Activities • Committee with the goal to prove that the democrats were soft on communism

6. House Un-American Activities Committee • Sought to expose communists working in the Hollywood film industry • Subpoenaed 43 witnesses from the film industry in Sept. 1947 • Firmly believed communist filmmakers were inserting subliminal messages in films supporting their ideas.

8. The Hollywood Ten • The ten directors, actors and producers were convicted of contempt. Their appeals were denied, and all served prison terms of up to one year. -

9. HUAC Hearings-Friendly Witnesses “I have turned down quite a few scripts because I thought they were tinged with communistic ideas.” “We have exposed their lies when we came across them, we have opposed their propaganda...” Gary Cooper Ronald Reagan “They looked at a lot of our pictures, and I think they ran a lot of them in Russia, but then turned them back to us ... They didn't suit their purposes.” “Nobody has stated just what they mean by propaganda. I use the term to mean anything which gives a good impression of communism as a way of life.” Ayn Rand Walt Disney

10. H.U.A.C. Blacklisting • Hollywood film executives created a list of 500 people who they suspected had communist sympathies. • These people were put on a “black list” and never worked again.

11. McCarran Act-1950 • Congress passed the Internal Security Act of 1950 that required all communist groups to register with the government • The McCarran Act also made it illegal to plan to overthrow the US government • Truman vetoed it. Why? • Congress overrode his veto and it became law

12. Alger Hiss Case-1948 • Accused of being a Soviet spy while he served in the state department under F.D.R. • Allegedly microfilm evidence existed that proved he typed secret documents on his typewriter. • Seven years had passed since alleged crimes had been committed. • His convicted of perjury, served 3 years of his 5 year term • Young congressman from California Richard Nixon makes his name chasing Alger Hiss • Was Hiss guilty?

13. -June 1949- What is the Washington Post cartoonist portraying in his drawing?

14. The Rosenberg Espionage Case

15. The Arrest-July 1950 • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit espionage. • Ethel’s brother, David Greenglass is also arrested on the same charge. • The Rosenbergs plead not guilty to all charges.

16. The Trial-March 1951 • David Greenglass, a machinist working on the Manhattan Project developing the atomic bomb, cooperated with the FBI in exchange for a guarantee that he won’t get the death penalty. • He claimed under oath that his brother in law, Julius, recruited him to steal atomic secrets for the Soviet Union. • He also claimed that his sister, Ethel Rosenberg, helped Julius by typing notes to send to the Soviets. • The Rosenbergs are found guilty and sentenced to death.

17. The Appeal • People from around the world plead for the Rosenbergs not to be executed. • Reasons: • Flimsy evidence • They have two small children • Anti-semitism is the real reason for their death sentence.

18. The Execution • On June 19, the Rosenbergs are executed. • Julius dies quickly after one jolt of electricity. • Ethel needs three jolts to kill her. Eyewitnesses described a plume of smoke rising over her head. • The children, now orphans, are adopted by a couple in NY City. They grow up under a different name.

19. Were they guilty?

20. Julius-guilty In 1995, after the Cold War is over, the FBI releases secret decoded messages that prove that Julius was involved with spying for the Soviets. However, the information he passed on was of little importance

21. Ethel-not guilty She was probably aware of her husband’s activities, but took no part in them.

22. David Greenglass-guilty Sentenced to 15 years in prison. He served ten, and was released, and moved back to NYC. He lives there still. He admitted in 1996 that he implicated his sister to save his wife, who really typed Julius’s messages to the Soviets. When asked if he regretted sending his sister to the electric chair, he replied “never”.

23. The Real Spy-Klaus Fuchs • German nuclear scientists who escaped Nazi Germany and worked on the Manhattan Project • A lifelong communist, he passed on key components of the a-bomb to the Soviets during WWII • Arrested by the British in 1950, he confessed to spying for the Soviets, and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. • He was released in 1959 and promptly emigrated to the Soviet Union. • His knowledge helped the Soviets develop the hydrogen bomb ahead of schedule. • He also help Communist China develop and test an atomic bomb in 1964

24. Sen. Joseph McCarthy

25. Joseph McCarthy • National spotlight shone first on McCarthy in 1950, when he made a speech in Wheeling, W.Va. He declared he had a list of 205 Communists working in the State Department. • In the 1950’s, he became the most visible public face during a period of extreme anti-communism tensions. Republican US Senator from Wisconsin

26. McCarthyism fix this slide • Is characterized by uncontrollable, and unproven accusations, as well as public attacks on the character or patriotism of political opponents Have a care, sir. • No one was able to bash McCarthy without the risk of being called a communist spy or sympathizer, even President Eisenhower remained silent.

27. Effects of McCarthyism • Millions of Americans investigated and require to take loyalty oaths • Many people afraid to speak out on public issues. • Many people are loathe to appear different. Those who are “different” might be accused. • Politicians and political parties must appear to be tough on communism or risk losing elections. Sen. Joseph McCarthy

28. McCarthy’s Downfall-What finally does him in? • In 1954 he accused the Army and even Pres. Eisenhower of disloyalty • His bullying on televised hearings horrifies the American public and he quickly loses public support • By 1957, downtrodden and alcoholic, he dies a broken man

29. Political chill in America

30. The Result? Don’t Look Different: CONFORM!