The Cold War: At Home

Cold War Recap In the 1950s, Cold War tensions led to anxiety & fear in America: USSR dominated Eastern Europe & China fell to communism The Korean War almost led to a full- scale war with China The U.S.-Soviet arms race led to fears of a nuclear attack The discovery of Soviet spies in the U.S. led to a new Red Scare

The Red Scare The Second Red Scare-the gov’t became concerned about the growth of communism in America House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated suspected communists in the entertainment & other industries From 1947-1951, 3.2 million gov’t employees were investigated & 212 were dismissed as security risks (2,900 resigned rather than face investigation)

The Red Scare Fears in America were heightened by the discovery of spies working for the USSR: State Dept employee Alger Hiss- convicted of spying for the USSR Ethel & Julius Rosenberg were convicted & executed for passing atomic bomb secrets to the USSR Fear of Communism: Alger Hiss & the Rosenbergs Gov’t reaction: Loyalty Review Board House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

The Hollywood Ten Blacklisted: Group of suspected communists were actors/directors/writers in Hollywood These 10 sent to prison and blacklisted Blacklisted: Placed on a list that would deny that person a job.

McCarthy Gone Wild Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin contributes to the Red Scare Claimed to have a list of communists working in govt ”McCarthyism”- Period in the 1950’s of reckless accusations against suspected communists with little or no evidence In 1950, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy emerged as the leader of anti-Communism in the U.S. He used public trials to make unsupported accusations against suspected communists in the State Dept & the U.S. military

McCarthyism in Action “McCarthyism” did not result in a single confirmed Communist or spy in the U.S. gov’t McCarthy was briefly popular but by 1954, the public grew tired of his bullying techniques & McCarthyism faded Many of McCarthy’s hearings were put on TV for the US to watch People watched him as he got caught in his own lies and bully defendants He lost power as the Senate condemned his actions in 1954

McCarthy Falls From Power Many of McCarthy’s hearings were put on TV People watched him as he got caught in his own lies and bullied defendants He lost power as the Senate condemned his actions in 1954 “McCarthyism” did not result in a single confirmed Communist or spy in the U.S. gov’t McCarthy was briefly popular but by 1954, the public grew tired of his bullying techniques & McCarthyism faded