Chapter 25: Cold War Section 4: Cold War at Home US 2

Red Scare What were the causes of the Red Scare of the 1920’s? Define Smith Act

Congress Hunts Communists 1938, HUAC is created to find Nazi’s and Communist in US Continues following war targeting government officials, unions, education, newspapers and others 1947 they target the “Hollywood 10”, directors and actors known to be communists The Hollywood 10 were jailed and blacklisted from filmmaking again

Court Cases: Page 871-872 Alger Hiss vs. Whitaker Chambers Ethel and Julius Rosenberg

Hiss v Chambers Chambers, former communist, accuses Hiss (state dept worker) of being a communist Hiss denies charges, sues Chambers Chambers produced “pumpkin papers” that prove Hiss lied to HUAC Hiss is accused of perjury, 5 years in jail Richard Nixon, a young Congressman uses the case to gain political power

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg Convicted of selling atomic energy secrets to Russia Only evidence is testimony of a confessed spy, both are found guilty and executed Evidence uncovered later shows Julius was likely guilty but many believe Ethel had little or no part in the crime yet she is executed

Joseph McCarthy Senator from Wisconsin, McCarthy in 1950 claimed that he knew of 205 Communists working in the government Even though he never produced the names it gave him a bump in popularity and he was reelected in 1952 He continued to point the finger at “suspected communists” including fellow congressmen, Gen George Marshall and members of the US Army

McCarthyism People feared being accused by McCarthy so much that few stood up to him Finally the Senate held hearings to determine the legitimacy of his claims and many viewed McCarthy’s tactics as nothing more than bullying By 1954 the Korean War was over and McCarthy’s spotlight had faded