Standard and Objective Strand 1: American History Concept 9: Postwar United States PO 2: Describe aspects of American post-World War II domestic policy: a. McCarthyism Students will analyze the Red Scare and McCarthyism by examining how these events affected American society.

Cold War and American Society A New Red Scare

The Loyalty Review Program 1947 -Truman established the Loyalty Review Program to screen all federal employees Confirmed American suspicions that Communists had infiltrated the government and added to the nation’s fear the FBI investigated about 14,000 people 2,000 quit their jobs and 212 were fired for “questionable loyalty” despite lack of evidence

The HUAC The House Un-American Activities Committee formed in 1938 to investigate subversive activities in the U.S. J. Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI, urged HUAC to hold public hearings on Communist subversion in order to expose “Communist sympathizers” The FBI under Hoover sent agents to infiltrate groups suspected of subversion and wiretapped thousands of telephones

Hollywood on Trial On of the first HUAC hearings focused on the film industry They were afraid Communists might manipulate films to spread their ideals Ronald Reagan , head of the Screen Actor’s Guild, was called to testify and he said that there were communists in Hollywood During these hearings ten screenwriters used their fifth amendment right to protect themselves from self-incrimination and refused to testify -The became known as the “Hollywood Ten” Producers would blacklist anyone who they believed to be Communists or who refused to cooperate with the committee

The Rosenbergs They were part of the Communist Party Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were charged with spying for the Soviets The charges were denied but they were condemned to death for espionage It was believed that they were giving atomic secrets to Russia They had a quick trial and were executed by electric chair Many people believe they were innocent but Project Verona showed otherwise

Project Venona American and British Cryptographers worked to crack the Soviet Union;s spy code They were able to read 3,000 messages between Moscow and the U.S. collected during the Cold War Revealed Soviet spying and their attempts at stealing nuclear secrets The Venona Documents weren’t revealed until 1995 They contain strong evidence that they Rosenbergs were guilty

Let’s Review Students will analyze the Red Scare and McCarthyism by examining how these events affected American society. Who was J Edgar Hoover and what did he have to do with the Red Scare? Thinking about the Hollywood Ten and the Rosenbergs, what do these cases tell you about American society during this time? Based on the evidence so far, were Americans’ fears founded in truth?

The Red Scare Spreads Many local governments, Universities, businesses and unions took it upon themselves to find communists These organizations made staff and members take oaths of loyalty and would fire those who didn’t The Taft-Hartley Act required union leaders to take oaths that they weren’t communist

How to Spot a Communist

McCarthyism The Red Scare intensified when the Soviet Union tested an atomic bomb and China fell to communism It made Americans think we were losing the Cold War In February of 1950, senator Joseph McCarthy gave a speech to a Republican women’s group and halfway through he claimed to have in his hand a list of the names of 205 men from the state department who were members of the communist party and part of a spy ring No one ever saw this list though

McCarthyism McCarthy distributed booklets accusing the Democratic Party of corruption and protecting communists He accused George Marshall of disloyalty McCarthy became chairman of the Senate subcommittee on investigations -forced government officials to testify about alleged Communist influences These investigations became witch-hunts

The End of McCarthyism McCarthy started going after the Army American watched him question and bully officers harassing them about trivial details and accusing them of misconduct His popularity faded This became clear when McCarthy went after the army’s lawyer, Joseph Welch When McCarthy brought up a member of Welch’s firm who was part of a Communist group in college, Welch blew up at McCarthy asking if he had no sense of decency left The crowd cheered showing their change in opinion of McCarthy McCarthy was censured and died in 1957

Life During the Cold War Americans were terrified when Russia successfully tested the hydrogen bomb Everyone prepared for a surprise attack Schools built bomb shelters Some families built backyard fallout shelters

Duck and Cover

Let’s Review Please take out your device and go to: kahoot.it When the teacher provides the pin, log in Put in an APPROPRIATE nickname Let’s go!