Communist Hysteria in the United States Ms. Ha Ch. 18 sec. 3 Pages: 616-621
I. Fear of Communism A. 100,000 communists in U.S. 1. Truman 2. Federal Employee Loyalty Program 3. Loyalty Review Board
B. From 1947-1951 1. 3.2 million employees investigated 2. 2,900 resigned 3. Not allowed to see evidence against them.
II. HUAC A. House of Un-American Activities Committee (1947) 1. Investigations 2. Industry: Communist influence 3. Hollywood movies watched for communist themes
III. Spy Cases in the U.S. A. Alger Hiss 1. Spy 2. Claimed innocence 3. 1990’s proof he was spying
IV. Atomic Bomb: Soviets A. Exploded first one 1. Sept. 3, 1949 2. Fear U.S. spies leaked bomb making plans
B. The Rosenbergs 1. 1950 2. Physicist Fuchs admitted giving S.U. bomb plans
3.Ethel & Julius Rosenberg a. Implemented in case b. Minor communist activists
c. Found guilty of espionage d. Executed in 1953 by electric shock e. Left behind two sons
V. Witch Hunt begins A. Led by: McCarthy-goal 2. Win election of 1952 1. Senator Joseph McCarthy-goal 2. Win election of 1952
B. McCarthy Strategy: 1. Communist take over 2. Accused w/o proof 3. Known: “McCarthyism” 4. Ended 1954