June 17, 1949 Washington Post Bellringer – What does this cartoon tell you about the Cold War era?

McCarthyism and the Cold War at Home

The Red Scare Hysteria caused by fear & anxiety about Soviet threat Many Americans believed there were communists working within society to undermine U.S. Video Clip

McCarthyism Often used as a synonym of 2 nd Red Scare Use of fear, suspicion, & scapegoating through charges of communism to discredit political ideas, cultural values, and individual’s reputations

Post-WWI Red Scare Soviet creation of puppet regimes across E. Europe post-WWII Soviets get Atomic bomb, 1949 Mao Zedong’s communist party gains control of China, 1949 Ethel and Julius Rosenberg convicted of espionage, 1950 Korean War stalemate, 1951 Video Clip Causes of McCarthyism

Loyalty Review Program Truman created in 1947 –Background checks on federal workers done by FBI –Accused sent in front of the Loyalty Review Board –Anyone with “ questionable ” activities were fired or pressured to resign

HUAC House Un-American Activities Committee –Congressional committee to find Communists. –Focused on Hollywood US govt. encouraged pro-Soviet films during WWII –Refusal to answer = labeled “Fifth Amendment Communist”

Joe McCarthy Senator who charged that there were 205 communist spies in the state department who were selling out the United States. “When a great democracy is destroyed, it will not be because of the enemies from without, but rather because of the enemies from within.”

McCarthy Anti-Communism as a political weapon –Democrats were labeled “soft on communism” –Reds were Communists –Pinks would gradually help lead America to Communism –Even called FDR’s New Deal “20 years of treason.” Creeping Socialism

End of McCarthy Despite all of the hysteria, NO conspirators were ever found. McCarthy never proved his conspiracy theory. –Political power waned, supporters abandoned him. –Finally overreached himself when he shouted at a general on TV “You are a disgrace to the uniform. You’re shielding communist conspirators … You’re not fit to be an officer. You’re ignorant.” Video Clip

Who was accused? If you could prove that someone else was a communist, no one would point the accusing finger at you. Some of the accused were: –Rock & Roll musicians –Teachers –University Professors –Librarians –Girl Scouts

Impacts of Anti-Communist Sentiment Political Discourse American politics swung heavily to the right, Republican and conservative. Proposals by Democrats to increase the govt role in any program was viewed as leading to RED. (Creeping Socialism.) 1950s - Jonas Salk invented the Polio vaccine, it was suggested that all school age children be vaccinated for free. However, Eisenhower’s sec’y of health, argued against vaccinating saying it would be “socialized medicine through the back door.” –Govt Funding for vaccinations cut by 70%

Impacts of Anti-Communist Sentiment Lawmaking In Texas, membership in the Comm Party was a felony and punishable by 20 years in prison. –The governor vetoed the bill, calling for death. NY City, fisherman had to pledge their loyalty to the US to get their fishing license. Indiana, wrestlers took a loyalty oath to get their license to wrestle.

Impacts of Anti-Communist Sentiment Education Teachers/Professors required to tale loyalty oaths. Textbooks emphasized patriotic themes, promoted anti-RED propaganda High Schools told students to report suspicious behavior. “Un-American” books were banned and removed from libraries.