4.19.19 Unit 9: The Cold War

DOT GAME

“Who’s a dot?!” Each of you will receive a card. Some will have dots; more of them will be blank. Do not let others see your card at any time. Look at your piece of paper secretly to see if you have a dot. Do not let anyone know whether or not you have a dot. Then put the piece of paper out of sight.

Goal If you do NOT have a dot, you are trying to create the largest group possible of non-dotted people. If you create the largest group of non-dotted people, you win. If you have a dot, your goal is to be the only dotted person in a group. If you are the only dotted person in a group, you win

Playing The Game You will have 5 minutes to talk to each other in order to figure out who has a dot. Look for people who seem suspicious. If you think someone has a dot, call out them out. If you have a dot, try to bluff to convince others that you don’t. If you’re asked to leave a group, you need to leave.

DOT GAME

Debrief For those who were dots, how did you convince others you were not a “dot”? Who was accused of being a dot? Did you accuse anyone else of having a dot? Why?

The Red Scare & McCarthyism

What is communism? a political theory leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs

Background: Communism in America During the Great Depression, tens of thousands of Americans had joined the Communist Party After WWII, membership declined Better economic situation Soviet Union the new enemy

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Spies in the US Alger Hiss: Klaus Fuchs: Spied for the Soviet Union Admitted to spying for S.U. in the Manhattan Project

Fear of Communism During the Cold War, politicians encouraged fear of Communism Worried about expanding Soviet Influence Truman administration began to investigate members of the Communist Party 1947: EO 9835 (aka the “Loyalty Order”): All federal employees were analyzed to determine loyalty 6.6 million Americans were investigated

The Red Scare 1940s – 1950s Hysteria over communism Soviet Union has a red flag, so people from the S.U. were called “Reds”

HUAC Congress began the House Un-American Activities Committee to investigate Communist “infiltration” of America In 1947, HUAC called Hollywood directors, writers, actors, and producers to testify Asked: “Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?” https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/red-scare/videos/huac

HUAC & The Hollywood Ten A group of directors & producers refused to testify “Hollywood Ten” Served jail terms from 6 months-1 year Studios began “blacklisting” people who were accused of having Communist ties The 10 individuals who defied HUAC were Alvah Bessie (c. 1904-85), Herbert Biberman (1900-71), Lester Cole (c. 1904-85), Edward Dmytryk (1908-99), Ring Lardner Jr. (1915-2000), John Howard Lawson (1894-1977), Albert Maltz (1908-1985), Samuel Ornitz (1890-1957), Robert Adrian Scott (1912-73) and Dalton Trumbo (1905-76). 

McCarran Act (1950) Unlawful to promote any action that would lead to a totalitarian dictatorship Immigrants deported if they were suspected Internment camps for “dangerous or disloyal” people Truman vetoed it… “One of the most un-American acts I have ever witnessed in my political career” But Congress overrode his veto

How to spot a communist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCR9vE0cM-U

Joseph McCarthy In 1950, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy gave a speech in which he declared: “I have here in my hand a list of 205 [people] who were known to the secretary of state as being members of the Communist Party and who, nevertheless, are still working and shaping policy at the State Department.”

McCarthyism McCarthy: Sensational charges that communists in the US needed to be stopped He created & played on a culture of fear

Hoover & the FBI FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover compiled extensive files on suspected subversives Wiretaps Surveillance Infiltration of leftist groups 1949: Convicted 12 leaders of the American Communist Party on advocating to overthrow the government Ethel & Julius Rosenberg: Convicted and put to death in 1953 Still unsure if guilty

4.22.19 Unit 9: The Cold War

How McCarthyism Worked Just being accused could lead people to lose their jobs Thousands saw their lives disrupted hounded by law enforcement alienated from friends & family fired from their jobs Most were victims of false allegations or had done nothing more than exercise their democratic right to join a political party

Why did people go along with it? Elected officials from both parties sought to portray themselves as staunch anti-communists Few people dared to criticize the questionable tactics used Membership in leftist groups dropped as associations could lead to serious consequences Dissenting voices from the left side of the political spectrum fell silent on a range of important issues

Dennis vs. United States In 1951 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that free-speech rights of accused Communists could be restricted because their actions presented a clear and present danger to the government

End of McCarthyism In 1954, televised hearings by the Army began It became clear that McCarthy was pursuing baseless charges – and targeting anyone who spoke out against him Senate formally condemned him Resolution 301 https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/army-mccarthy-hearings

McCarthyism Today McCarthyism is a term now used for witch hunts, typically those that are politically motivated.