The Cold War at Home

1. The Cold War at Home Chapter 26 Section 3

2. Goal Statements: • Students will be able to understand the development of Western and non-Western policies of containment toward communism after World War II. • Students will be able to identify the factions involved in the Cold War. • Students will be able to recognize an effect of the Cold War on social and political decisions made by Western and non-Western nations.

3. A New Red Scare • 1950’s America • Rumors and accusations of Communists in the United States create a FEAR or hysteria • Communists were taking over the world • The Red Scare began (again) in September 1945 • Escalated into a general fear of Communist subversion • Subversion= an effort to secretly weaken a society and overthrow its government

4. Early 1947 • Truman established the Loyalty Review program • Screens all federal employees for loyalty to the US. • Goal= to CALM Americans • Reality= led to fear that Communists were infiltrating the government

5. J. Edgar Hoover • Requested the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hold public hearings • Hearings addressed Communist subversion • FBI = Sent agents to investigate suspected groups • Wiretaps of thousands of telephones

6. Whittaker Chambers and Time Magazine • Whittaker Chambers was the editor of Time Magazine. • He testified before the HUAC • Government officials were former Communist spies • Accused former lawyer and diplomat Alger Hiss • Alger Hiss • Served in Roosevelt’s administration • Attended the Yalta Conference • Helped to organize the United Nations (UN) • Convicted of committing perjury • Perjury= lying under oath

7. Searching for Spies • Searches for spies intensified when the Soviet Union produced an atomic bomb. • Klaus Fuchs • British scientist • Admitted giving information to the Soviet Union • Led to the arrest of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg • New York couple • Members of the Communist Party • Headed a Soviet spy ring in the United States • Executed in June 1953

8. Cracking the Soviet code • 1946 = American cryptographers cracked the Soviet code • Allowed the United States to read messages between Moscow and the United States • Becomes public knowledge in 1995 (after the collapse of the USSR) • Project Venona • The name of the project used to crack the Soviet code • Provided strong evidence against the Rosenbergs

9. From the top down • The federal government set the example for many state and local governments • Businesses will also follow the federal example • Unions will follow the federal example • Churches will follow the federal example

10. “A Conspiracy so Immense” • 1949 = A Rough Year • The Soviets tested an atomic bomb • China fell to Communism • Americans feel they are LOSING the Cold War • Americans continue to believe that there are Communists in our government • Joseph R. McCarthy • An American senator • Gave a speech where he accused 205 people of being Communists • Said they were serving in the State Department • McCarthy will remain a senator (win his election) because he is anti-Communist • He will actually accuse the Democratic leaders of protecting Communists – fueling hysteria!

11. McCarran Act • Congressional Internal Security Act (1950) • Illegal to establish a totalitarian government • You cannot conspire or agree to help form a totalitarian government • You cannot perform any act to further the establishment of a totalitarian government • McCarthyism • McCarthy’s investigation of Communists led to a “witch hunt” • He searched for disloyalty • Based findings on poor evidence • Created fear in America • Ruined the reputations of many without proper evidence • McCarthyism= the tactics used by McCarthy to “convict” people of something they did not do.

12. Army-McCarthy Hearings • 1954 = Televised hearings of Army officials led by McCarthy • McCarthy attacked (verbally) witnesses • Because of these attacks, his popularity faded • Joseph Welch • Army lawyer • Stood up to McCarthy • McCarthy Censured • 1954 = McCarthy is censured by the Senate • Ensure = formal disapproval of actions

13. Life During the Early Cold War • Two things dominated the life of Americans and American leaders in the 1950s: • Communism • Threat of the Atomic Bomb • Atomic Attack • Americans prepared for surprise attacks • Scientists encouraged Americans to protect themselves • Realities of Nuclear Attack • For every American killed in an atomic blast, 4 would die of fallout • Fallout – radiation leftover from an atomic blast • Fallout shelters were constructed by some families • Typically located in the back yard • Stocked with food and supplies • Cold War images also appeared in films and popular fiction works.

14. Fallout Shelterc. 1950