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American History Chapter 25-3. The Second Red Scare. Second Red Scare. Aug., 1949: Soviet Union detonates an atomic bomb. Communists gain control of China . The U.S. supported the corrupt gov’t . of Chiang Kai-shek . Mao Zedong & the Communists forced the Nationalists out.
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American History Chapter 25-3 The Second Red Scare
Second Red Scare • Aug., 1949: Soviet Union detonates an atomic bomb. • Communists gain control of China. • The U.S. supported the corrupt gov’t. of Chiang Kai-shek. • Mao Zedong & the Communists forced the Nationalists out.
Americans become very concerned about the spread of Communism.
Anti-Communism Movement in America • HUAC: House Un-American Activities Committee: • Investigate Communist activities in the U.S. • 1947: Investigated the film industry. • Hollywood Ten refused to answer questions & were sentenced to a year in prison. • Scared people into turning in names of other suspected radicals.
More Anti-Communism Activism • 1950 McCarran Act: • Required Communist organizations to register with the gov’t. • Prevented Communists & radicals from entering the country. • Pres. Truman vetoed the bill. • Said it would support Communism by making a joke of the Bill of Rights. • Congress overrode the veto.
American Spy Cases • 1948: Alger Hiss was accused of being a Communist spy. • Convicted of perjury & served 44 months in prison. • 1951: Ethel & Julius Rosenberg were convicted of spying for the Soviets. - Executed in 1953.
The Rosenbergs Electrocuted: 1953
Rise of McCarthyism • Senator Joseph McCarthy made charges that there were Communists holding positions in the U.S. State Department. • Americans believed because they were fearful. • All of McCarthy’s charges were unsubstantiated by evidence. • He lost credibility when it was discovered he had lied, manipulated people’s fears, and persecuted individuals.