The Second Red Scare

The Second Red Scare PowerPoint by Mr. Hataway Created January 28, 2012

Today, I will learn • How American society reflected the fears of the nuclear age. • I will learn it by • Listening to lecture and taking Cornell Notes • I have learned it when I can • Write a brief essay describing life after leaving a bomb shelter following a nuclear attack by Russia or China.

Essential Question • How were Cold War tensions intensified?

Soviet Bomb • Communism and the atom bomb dominated life for Americans and their leaders in the 1950s.

Soviet Bomb • September 1949, Pres. Truman announced that, “We have evidence that within recent weeks an atomic explosion occurred in the USSR.” • Soviet’s create their first atomic bomb.

Soviet Bomb • Successful Soviet development of a nuclear bomb created widespread fear of a “sneak” attack by the Soviets. • The Civil Defense Administration (CDA) was set up to oversee warning, evacuation, and communications systems. • Thousands of Americans built backyard bomb shelters, while schoolchildren learned to “duck and cover.”

Soviet Bomb • Fear of nuclear attack forced Americans to prepare for a surprise attack. • Some families built fallout shelters in their backyards. • For every person killed instantly from a nuclear blast, four more would die later from fallout.

Soviet Bomb • The U.S. reestablished itself as the world’s leading nuclear power with the detonation of a hydrogen, or thermonuclear, bomb in November 1952.

Cold War at Home • At the height of WWII, about 80,000 Americans claimed membership in the Communist Party. • Some feared that the first loyalty of these American Communists was to the Soviet Union. • Overall, Americans feared communist ideology, a world revolution and Soviet expansion. Anti-Soviet Cartoon

Cold War at Home • In March of 1947, President Truman set up the Loyalty Review Board • The board was created to investigate federal employees and dismiss those disloyal to the U.S. • The U.S. Attorney General also drew up a list of 91 “subversive” organizations – membership in any of these was ground for suspicion

House Un-American Activities Committee • The HUAC was a government body which first made headlines in 1947 when it began investigating communist influence in the movie industry • The committee believed that Communists were sneaking propaganda into films • The HUAC subpoenaed witnesses from Hollywood to discuss their involvement “Are you now or have you ever been. . . .”

Hollywood Ten • Ten witnesses refused to cooperate because they believed the proceedings were unconstitutional – they were jailed • Subsequently, the committee blacklisted 500 actors, directors, writers and producers whom they believed had communist connections “Hollywood Ten” (And two lawyers)

Spies in America • Two spy cases added to the fear gripping the nation • Alger Hiss was accused of being a spy for the Soviets • A young Republican congressman named Richard Nixon gained fame by tirelessly prosecuting Hiss • Hiss was found guilty and jailed – less than four years later Nixon was VP Nixon inspects examines microfilm Hiss case Alger Hiss

Spies in America • The Rosenberg spy case • The Rosenbergs were accused of providing information to Soviets which enabled them to produce an atomic bomb in 1949 • Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were found guilty and executed 1953 The Rosenbergs were the first U.S. citizens executed for espionage

McCarthyism • McCarthyism – term coined by political cartoonist Herbert Block in a 1950s cartoon in reference to Senator Joseph McCarthy (R, Wisconsin, 1947-1957)

McCarthyism • The most famous anti-Communist activist was Senator Joseph McCarthy. • In 1950, McCarthy announced made unsupported claims that 205 members of the State Department were Communists. • He worked to identify known communists and accused other based on association.

McCarthyism • Finally, in 1954 McCarthy went too far, accusing high ranking Army officers of being Communists. • In the televised proceedings McCarthy’s bullying of witnesses alienated the national audience. • Three years later he died of alcoholism at age 49. McCarthy chaired the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations 1953-1954.

Anti-Communist propaganda during McCarthy era

Project Venona • Project Venona • Secret join project between the intelligence agencies of the United States and the United Kingdom. • In 1946, cryptographers cracked the Soviet spy code, allowing them to read messages between Moscow and the Soviet Embassy. • Did not become public knowledge until 1995. • It provide strong evidence against the Rosenbergs.

Discussion Question • Why did the hunt for Communist spies increase with the Soviet Union’s production of the atomic bomb? • Many believed that the Soviet Union could not have produced the atomic bomb without help. • The belief was that American Communists must have sold secrets of the atomic bomb to the Soviets.

Images of the Cold War • Images of the Cold War appeared in films and popular fiction. • Along with these fears, the country enjoyed postwar prosperity and optimism.

Images of the Cold War Ah, the Fifties. A time of innocence (no swearing in movies, but everybody smoked!), yet also a time of conformity, the height of the Cold War, an inherent distrust of intellectuals, fear of nuclear annihilation and Communism! What’s not to like? • 1950 • When Worlds Collide • The Day the Earth Stood Still • The Thing • 1951 • The War of the Worlds • 1954 • Them! • 1955 • This Island Earth • 1956 • Forbidden Planet • Invasion of the Body Snatchers • 1957 • The Incredible Shrinking Man • 1959 • On the Beach

Discussion Question • What two events heightened American concerns about the Cold War? • Soviet Union successful test of an atomic bomb. • Communist forces taking control of China.

The Second Red Scare