The Red Scare, McCarthyism, and the Impact of the Cold War

Context Following the Second World War, the combatant nations largely separated into armed camps defined by ideology. The Cold War began nearly as soon as the fighting stopped. The twelve Western democracies, dominated by the United States, founded NATO as a mutual defense organization in In response, the communist nations, dominated by the Soviet Union, formed the Warsaw Pact in This alignment would serve as the basic framework of the Cold War over the next fifty years.

Communist Expansion in Asia and the Fear of Communism in the U.S. In 1949, communist forces, led by Mao Zedong, expelled the government of Chiang Kai-Shek to the island of Taiwan and formed the Peoples’ Republic of China. In the United States, the adoption of communism in China was viewed as evidence of Soviet expansionism The U.S. foreign policy was Containment. Truman’s unwillingness to fight a larger war with China fueled attacks from the right that he was soft on communism. Chairman Mao

The Rosenbergs and the Fear of Communism in the U.S. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a young couple living in New York, were arrested for conspiracy to commit treason in helping Soviet agents ferret atomic secrets out of the United States. While they were both members of the Communist Party, it was not clear if they were guilty. All the same, they were convicted of treason, largely on the strength of the vigorous prosecution presented by Roy Cohn. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed in the electric chair in June 1953.

Alger Hiss and the Fear of Communism in the U.S. Alger Hiss was a bright up and coming member of the State Department. Time Magazine editor Whittaker Chambers accused him of passing secrets to the Soviets. At trial, Hiss was twice acquitted of treason, though he was convicted of perjury. This distinction did not matter to many of Hiss’ critics continued to label him a traitor.

House Un-American Activities Committee and Fear of Communism in the U.S. HUAC was an investigative committee of the US Congress. HUAC was an investigative committee of the US Congress. In 1947 HUAC investigated alleged communist infiltration of the motion picture industry. In 1947 HUAC investigated alleged communist infiltration of the motion picture industry. Hearsay, innuendo, and rumor were perfectly acceptable forms of evidence. Hearsay, innuendo, and rumor were perfectly acceptable forms of evidence. HUAC decided the Fifth Amendment did not apply in its hearings so those refusing to testify, branded the “Hollywood Ten”, were imprisoned for contempt. HUAC decided the Fifth Amendment did not apply in its hearings so those refusing to testify, branded the “Hollywood Ten”, were imprisoned for contempt. Through pressing witnesses to “name names,” HUAC claimed to have identified 324 communists working in the motion picture industry. Through pressing witnesses to “name names,” HUAC claimed to have identified 324 communists working in the motion picture industry. Ronald Reagan testifies to HUAC.

Senator Joseph McCarthy Elected to the Senate from Wisconsin in Elected to the Senate from Wisconsin in Anti-communist and alleged communist infiltration into the American government. Anti-communist and alleged communist infiltration into the American government. On 20 February 1950, McCarthy made a six hour Senate speech claiming that the Democratic Party had been engaged in twenty years of treason. On 20 February 1950, McCarthy made a six hour Senate speech claiming that the Democratic Party had been engaged in twenty years of treason. In 1952, the Republicans gained control of the Senate. In 1952, the Republicans gained control of the Senate. The Republicans named McCarthy as Chairman of the Senate Sub- Committee on Investigations. The Republicans named McCarthy as Chairman of the Senate Sub- Committee on Investigations.

McCarthy Hearings In the Senate Sub-Committee for Investigations, Senator McCarthy applied the methods of HUAC to the American government, military, and defense industry. In the Senate Sub-Committee for Investigations, Senator McCarthy applied the methods of HUAC to the American government, military, and defense industry. According to McCarthy’s own numbers, his investigations drove 400 suspected communists from the American government, though, in reality, few were guilty of anything more than liberal politics or associations According to McCarthy’s own numbers, his investigations drove 400 suspected communists from the American government, though, in reality, few were guilty of anything more than liberal politics or associations

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