The Cold War Creates Communist Hysteria at Home
I. Two Cases of Catching Communists A. HUAC and the Hollywood Ten
A. The Hollywood Ten Go to Jail
B. Julius & Ethel Rosenberg Are Executed
II. Basic Facts About the Communist Hysteria
A. The Context: Fear of Communism + Atomic Age = Fear of Spies
B. The Key Law/Rule: Workers can be fired if there are “reasonable grounds” to believe they are disloyal to the US govt.
C. Do you have to be a communist to be penalized? No “Fellow travelers” (members of communist organizations, friends of communists, ex-communists) Those who criticize America -- civil rights leaders, homosexuals, etc.
D. A Range of Penalties: Humiliation Loss of Job Jail Execution
III. The Rise and Fall of Joseph McCarthy
A. McCarthy’s Early Life: From Wisconsin to WWII
B. McCarthy’s Anti-Communism: The Wheeling Speech & Wild Accusations
C. McCarthy’s Downfall: Attacking the Army & Alcoholism