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The M c Carthy Era A Time of Suspicion!

The M c Carthy Era A Time of Suspicion!. FEAR. OF NUCLEAR ATTACK COMMUNIST TAKE OVER COMMUNISTS INFILTRATING GOVERNMENT. JOSEPH McCARTHY. Came to Power in the SENATE Accused many gov’t employees of being COMMUNISTS American People support him out of FEAR

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The M c Carthy Era A Time of Suspicion!

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  1. The McCarthy Era A Time of Suspicion!

  2. FEAR • OF NUCLEAR ATTACK • COMMUNIST TAKE OVER • COMMUNISTS INFILTRATING GOVERNMENT

  3. JOSEPH McCARTHY • Came to Power in the SENATE • Accused many gov’t employees of being COMMUNISTS • American People support him out of FEAR • Want communists out of gov’t positions.

  4. Thomas: Are you a member of the Communist Party or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?Lawson: It's unfortunate and tragic that I have to teach this committee the basic principles of Americanism.Thomas: That's not the question. That's not the question. The question is—have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?Lawson: I am framing my answer in the only way in which any American citizen can frame his answer to...Thomas: Then you deny it?Lawson: ...a question that invades his...absolutely invades his privacy.Thomas: Then you deny... You refuse to answer that question, is that correct?

  5. Lawson: I have told you that I will offer my beliefs, my affiliations and everything else to the American public and they will know where I stand as they do from what I have written. Thomas: Stand away from the stand...Lawson: I have written for Americanism for many years...Thomas: Stand away from the stand...Lawson: And I shall continue to fight for the Bill of Rights, which you are trying to destroy.Thomas: Officer, take this man away from the stand.192

  6. LEGACY OF HUAC & THE McCARTHY HEARINGS • HUNDREDS OF GOV’T WORKERS LOSE THEIR JOBS. • MANY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY BECOME “BLACKLISTED” • AGE OF SUPPRESSION OF IDEAS & OPEN DISCUSSION

  7. House of UnAmerican Activities Committee • FILMS HAD POWER TO CORRUPT AMERICAN PEOPLE • BEGAN INVESTIGATING FILM INDUSTRY FOR DISLOYALTY • “HOLLYWOOD 10” • WRITERS, ACTORS, DIRECTORS, AND PRODUCERS JAILED FOR CONTEMPT. • ALL DISCHARGED WHEN THEY REFUSED TO ANSWER COMMITTEE QUESTIONS.

  8. WHO WAS IN CHARGE? • CHAIRMAN: J. Parnell Thomas • ASKS THEM: • “ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY?”

  9. WHY? • Why were Americans willing to suspend the Bill of Rights to fight Communism? • What were they afraid of? • What were they trying to protect? • What did fear drive some Americans to do?

  10. MEET THE ROSENBERGS

  11. WHY WERE THEY ARRESTED? • Former members of the U.S. Communist Party • Inactive for some time. • Accused of espionage (giving Soviets the secrets to the A-Bomb)

  12. Rosenberg's cont.. • Both denied the charges & claimed that they were being targeted because they were Jewish. • Died by electric chair in 1953. • First “spies” to be killed.

  13. DOWNFALL OF HUAC • McCarthy becomes reckless • Makes wild accusations against ARMY REPS. • Hearings are televised for 36 Days. • By April 1954, Public is FED UP • Stays in SENATE, yet loses his power and dies in 1957.

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