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The Nuclear Age and 2nd Red Scare

The Nuclear Age and 2nd Red Scare. A. The Hydrogen Bomb. 1. Developing the H-Bomb January 1950, Truman approves work on the hydrogen bomb Works through “staging” nuclear fission explosion sets off a nuclear fusion explosion Far more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in WWII.

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The Nuclear Age and 2nd Red Scare

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  1. The Nuclear Age and 2nd Red Scare

  2. A. The Hydrogen Bomb 1. Developing the H-Bomb • January 1950, Truman approves work on the hydrogen bomb • Works through “staging” nuclear fission explosion sets off a nuclear fusion explosion • Far more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in WWII

  3. 2. Testing the Bomb (Operation IVY) • First tested in November 1952 • At Elugelab Island, Eniwetok in the South Pacific • 10.4 megatons of explosives

  4. 3. Soviets get the Hydrogen Bomb • Less than one year later the Soviet Union tested a Hydrogen Bomb • Claimed that US no longer had a “monopoly” on the bomb

  5. B. Nuclear Arms Race 1. US vs Soviets • Both the US and the Soviets greatly increased their nuclear stockpiles • Each tried to have more weapons than the other 2. MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) • By the 1950s both the US and Soviet Union had the power to obliterate the other side • Both sides developed a "second-strike" capability

  6. Could attack the other side after sustaining huge destruction • both sides knew that any attack upon the other would be suicide 3. Brinkmanship • Eisenhower's Foreign Policy • Be at the verge of war without ever fighting • A stand off with the costs so high that neither side would wage war

  7. C. Fear of the Bomb 1. At Home • People built bomb shelters

  8. Stocked up on food that did not have to be refrigerated • Bought Pocket Dosimeters to let them know when radiation levels were safe

  9. 2. SANE • Committee for Sane Nuclear Policy • Anti-nuclear group • Argued that nuclear tests released harmful radioactive particles that led to birth defects and disease

  10. Duck and Cover

  11. Cold War Fears Early Cold War

  12. A. 2nd Red Scare 1. Where the Fears Came From • Growth of communism in the US (Communist Party of the USA) • Soviet Expansion into Eastern Europe • Communist takeover of China 2. HUAC • House Un-American Activities Committee • Created May 1938 • Investigated disloyalty and harmful foreign influences • Held hearings on Communists in Hollywood and the Government

  13. 3. HUAC and Blacklisting • People investigated in Hollywood by HUAC were often blacklisted • Blacklisting = refusing to hire • Those accused couldn’t find jobs

  14. The Hollywood Ten, a group of writers who would not cooperate with HUAC, were the most famous of those blacklisted

  15. B. Spies in the Government 1. Loyalty Review Board • Truman was accused of letting Communists sneak into the government • He created this board • Investigated 16,000 federal workers • No Communists were discovered • Many institutions then started loyalty oaths and investigations

  16. 2. Internal Security Act (1950) • Required organizations thought to be communist to register with the government • Gave the government the right to arrest people suspected of treasonous activities during times of national emergency

  17. C. McCarthyism 1. Joseph McCarthy • Republican Senator from Wisconsin (1947-57) • In 1950 began a campaign to expose alleged communists in the US Government

  18. 2. McCarthy’s Accusations • Communists had infiltrated the US Government • Claimed to have files on 57 communists in the Govt • His accusations were called a hoax but he simply made up more charges 3. No Challenges from the Public • Public not used to questioning government officials • Did not want to be labeled “soft on communism” • People wanted an explanation for the spread of communism and McCarthy gave them one

  19. 4. Army-McCarthy Hearings • One of McCarthy’s assistants had been drafted in the Military • McCarthy blamed communists in the military for this • A group of Senators decided to hold televised hearings on these charges

  20. McCarthy continued to attack military and the Army’s Attorney, Joseph Welch • People began to see McCarthy as a bully • 1954: Senate voted to condemn McCarthy, 67 to 22 • McCarthy’s lies however still destroyed careers and lives

  21. D. Communist Fears in Pop Culture 1. Magazines • Articles published about communism • “How Communists Get That Way” • “Communists Are After Your Child”

  22. Movies • Hollywood produced 40 anti-communist films • “I Married a Communist”

  23. Comic

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