Immediate Impact of the Cold War at Home

Essential Question Did the Cold War have a positive or negative impact on life for Americans?

Communism at Home During Great Depression Thousands of people joined the Communist Party Why did this happen? People developed doubts about capitalist systems due to current economy

Communism at Home Continued After WWII Economy improved People grew disappointed with communism Stalin was not compromising with the U.S. at all

Communism at Home Continued Results  Many American communists quit the party, some remained (active or not) NEW RED SCARE BEGINS Concern of spread of communism raised fears of a conspiracy to overthrow the government Fears sparked a widespread anti-communist crusade Anyone with any history of Communist Party ties began being persecuted by the government

Measure to Prevent a Communist Revolution at Home The Loyalty Program HUAC The McCarran-Walter Act

The Loyalty Program Program launched in 1947 to root out any element of communism that might have infiltrated the U.S. government Background checks further investigated to see if government employees were engaged in any suspicious activities Why? Spread of the Red Scare Exposure to USSR spies increased anxiety

They Loyalty Program Continued What happened if someone was accused of disloyalty? Brought before Loyalty Review Board Board reviewed the case in a hearing Those accused had little chance to defend themselves and it was difficult to clear their names

HUAC HUAC  House of Un-American Activities Committee Congressional Committee that investigated Communist infiltration of American citizens prior to WWII Purpose: Investigate loyalty of American citizens prior to WWII

HUAC Continued Focused on the Hollywood Industry Why do you think the HUAC would focus on Hollywood? Claimed movies had tremendous power to influence the public

HUAC Continued 1947 Charged numerous Hollywood figures of: Spreading communist ideals through film making Being members of the Communist Party

HUAC Continued Hollywood writers, directors, actors and producers were called to testify Hollywood Ten: 10 accused Hollywood figures called on their 5th Amendment right, refusing to answer any questions All ten served jail sentences ranging 6-12 months

HUAC Continued Impact of HUAC investigations on Hollywood: Made everyone nervous Blacklist produced of people employees agreed not to hire Anyone who had any tie with communism was on this list Anyone who denounced the Blacklist was added to it Studios focused films on pure entertainment avoiding any social problems

The McCarran-Walter Act Law established a quota system for each country, discriminating vs. potential immigrants from Asia and Eastern Europe Truman vetoed the bill calling it “one of the most un- American acts I have ever witnessed in my public career.” Passed by Congress in 1952

Spy Cases Anger Nation Americans constantly on lookout for communist activity 2 famous spy cases helped fuel the suspicion that a conspiracy inside the US was aiding communists overseas in their expansion Anti-communist passions strengthened due to public spy cases

Spy Cases Anger Nation Continued 1. Case of Alger Hiss He was a high ranking State Department official before leaving government service Accused by a Times magazine writer of being a communist spy in the 30’s Result  1950 went to prison for 4 years

Spy Cases Anger Nation Continued 2. Case of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Married couple who were members of the Communist Party Accused of passing atomic secrets to the Soviets during WWII Result  convicted of espionage and executed in 1953