Fear, Hysteria, and Injustice in the Cold War The Red Scare Fear, Hysteria, and Injustice in the Cold War

Loyalty Review Program 1947 Program to screen all federal employees Confirmed public fears of Communism sweeping the nation 6 million federal employees screened for loyalty Reading certain books Belonging to certain groups Traveling overseas Seeing certain foreign films No actual evidence of disloyalty ever found

House Un-American Activities Committee 1938, investigate Communist and Fascist activities in US 1947, J. Edgar Hoover expands it Hold public hearings to reveal Communist subversion (efforts to weaken society or overthrow government) Expose Communists Expose Communist sympathizers Scrutinize dissenters

Hollywood Government suspicion and accusations focused on Hollywood Fear of film as a powerful cultural force to spread Communism in the US HUAC Questions: “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist party?” Name other members of the party Loyalty Patriotism Dissent “Uncooperative” suspects Jailed for perjury or contempt Hollywood Ten Blacklisted

The Rosenbergs Fear of spies passing government secrets to USSR Julius and Ethel Rosenberg New York Members of the Communist Party Arrested for heading a Soviet spy ring Denied charges Sentenced to death for espionage Executed in June 1953 Questionable if their actions warranted the death penalty

Spreading the Red Scare Fear of Communism spreads beyond the federal government Local government Universities Unions Businesses Churches Loyalty oaths People fired or expelled for not cooperating

McCarthyism Wisconsin senator, Joseph R. McCarthy (R) Claimed to have list of 205 Communists in the State Department Wild accusations of disloyalty, conspiracy, and Communist activities against the US Witch hunts against government officials Flimsy evidence Irrational fears Damaged reputations Suspicion= guilt Reckless accusations discredit McCarthy Lost power to promote fear

Arms Race and the Bomb Scare Build-up of weapons on both sides 1945, US uses atomic bomb in Japan 1949, USSR successfully tests atomic weapons 1952, US tests more powerful Hydrogen Bomb 1953, USSR tests H-Bomb Weapons continue to increase in strength and number Increases American fears of surprise nuclear attack and Communism Duck and Cover- illusion of safety Fallout Shelters- protect from explosion and radiation