The Second Red Scare (1950s)

1. The Second Red Scare (1950s)

2. SUSPICIONS DEVELOPED DURING THE WAR ISSUES • Even during the war, the two nations disagreed on many issues • The U.S. was furious that Soviet leader Joseph Stalin had been an ally of Hitler for a time • Stalin was upset that the U.S. had kept its development of the atomic bomb a secret

3. POLITICAL DIFFERENCES • At the heart of the tension was a fundamental difference in political systems • America • representative democracy • capitalist economic system, • free elections and • two competing political parties • In the U.S.S.R., • Oligarchy • Socialist • Elections • but only 1 party: the Communists – established a totalitarian rule Soviets viewed Marx, Engels and Lenin as founders of Communism

4. Paranoia • After World War II, the Soviet Union gobbled up Eastern Europe. For the first time, the Soviet Union and Communism were world powers. • There were small groups of communist supporters in the U.S. A fear spread that these Americans might engage in subversive (secret, anti-government) activities • The Republican party, in particular, more heavily made up of the wealthy and conservative Americans, led the attacks on these subversives

5. Spreading like …

6. The Cold War 1945-1991 NATO VS WARSAWUSA vs USSR

7. Improve your knowledge • The nuclear bomb gave America a lead which was expected to last at least 5 years. The rapid Russian development of nuclear technology, helped by the work of the “atom spies” was a shock.Significantly, Russia hurriedly declared war against Japan at the beginning of August 1945 and rushed to advance into Asia to stake out a position for the post-war settlement. This helped make both the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts more likely.

8. US Efforts to fight Communism • Truman Doctrine • Marshall Plan • National Security Act • Voice of America • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) • Da Bomb

9. The Truman Doctrine • “It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures” The Marshall Plan • Plan to provide $ to rebuild WESTERN Europe • $ to all nations that refused Communists • Eminently successful

10. THE MARSHALL PLAN • Post-war Europe was devastated economically • In June 1947, Secretary of State George Marshall proposed a U.S. aid package to European nations • Western Europe accepted the help, while Eastern Europe (read Stalin) rejected the aid • Over the next four years 16 European countries received $13 billion in U.S. aid • By 1952 Western Europe’s economy was flourishing The Marshall Plan helped Western Europe recover economically

11. Marshall Plan aid sent to European countries

12. Possible American Responses to the Cold War Tension • Traditional Isolation • Cooperate with the Soviets --Henry Wallace • Turn the Cold War into a Hot War • “Containment” • George Kennan • Only planned for EUROPE • “Long Telegram” (February, 1946) • Containment hard to contain

13. BRINKMANSHIP • By the time both countries had the H-bomb (1953), President Dwight D. Eisenhower made it clear they were willing to use all military force (including nuclear weapons) to stop aggression • The Soviets followed suit • This willingness to go to the edge of all-out war became known as brinkmanship Some Americans created shelters in their backyards in case of nuclear attack

14. THE 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 The Fear Grows Anti-Soviet cartoon

15. Government Backlash against feared American Spys

16. Early Hunts for Subversives • Truman, a democratic president, feared losing office if he was seen as ‘weak’ on communism • He set up Loyalty Review Boards, which reviewed government employees in order to remove/fire subversives • The House of Representatives set up a committee (the House Un-American Activities Committee or HUAC) to find and root out subversives. • They did not just search in the government. For example, famously, they held hearings to find subversives in Hollywood. • Blacklists • Robin Hood?

17. The Red Scare (again!) • HUAC:House Un-American Activities Committee "Win with Dick"?

18. HUAC • Goes all the way back to 1938 - WWII • Heats up in 1947 when it goes after Hollywood. To be safe one had to “name names” (Ronald Reagan) • Blacklists • Alger Hiss 1948-1950: Nixon makes his name known as the bulldog against Commies. Alger was: • President of the Carnegie International Peace Org. • Harvard trained • At Yalta with FDR • A New Dealer • Employed at State Dept • He MUST be a Commie HISSSSS

19. An admitted Commie, to get out of trouble names Hiss as his contact • Says he hides secret microfilm in his PUMPKIN Patch

20. THE ROSENBERGS • Another high profile trial was 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 The Rosenbergs were the first U.S. citizens executed for espionage

21. Judge in the Rosenberg case, when handing down his sentence “I consider your crime worse than murder... I believe your conduct in putting into the hands of the Russians the A-Bomb years before our best scientists predicted Russia would perfect the bomb has already caused, in my opinion, the Communist aggression in Korea, with the resultant casualties exceeding 50,000 and who knows but that millions more of innocent people may pay the price of your treason. Indeed, by your betrayal you undoubtedly have altered the course of history to the disadvantage of our country. No one can say that we do not live in a constant state of tension. We have evidence of your treachery all around us every day for the civilian defense activities throughout the nation are aimed at preparing us for an atom bomb attack.”

22. THE BLACKLIST 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 The “Blacklist Ten” (And two lawyers)

24. Paranoia  Hysteria • A number of events pushed the fear of communism to absurd heights • 1949 • China fell to Communism • Soviets get the atom bomb • Spy cases!!! • Alger Hiss  accused of smuggling secret American documents to the Soviets • The Rosenbergs  couple accused of selling the atom bomb plans to the Soviets • Executed!

26. Witch Hunts • Joe McCarthy • Republican senator from Wisconsin • Felt he was unlikely to win reelection • Decided to use fear of communism to boost his career • McCarthyism • McCarthy went on a rampage, announcing that the government was stuffed with ‘reds’ • Made claims that he had inside knowledge and proof of 205 known commies working in the government • Senators, can slander people in congress with no fear of penalty.

27. McCarthyism cont. • Successful strategy • McCarthy won reelection and became famous • However, when he accused the army of having tons of communist subversives, and called hearings on this issue, army officials blasted McCarthy and burst his imaginary bubble. He became a national disgrace

28. Impact of the Red Scare on American People • bomb shelters in suburbia • Duck and cover drills in schools • Demand for conformity (doing the same thing everyone else is doing) to prove loyalty • Same clothes, same haircut, same lifestyle and goals, etc.

29. TWO NATIONS LIVE ON THE EDGE • After World War II, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. competed in developing atomic and hydrogen bombs • The Soviets tested their first atomic bomb in 1949 • The U.S. began work on a bomb 67 times stronger than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima – the hydrogen bomb An H-bomb test conducted by America near Bikini Island in Pacific Ocean, 1954