Chapter 26 – Section 3: The Cold War at Home vs.
Communism: The Ultimate Disease Many Americans become terrified of Communists Communist ideology is like a disease People didn’t seek proof Wild accusations were made Caused by the fall of Eastern Europe and China At its pinnacle, the American Communist Party had 80,000 members
The Public Criticizes Truman Truman is viewed as soft on Communism Truman “gave away” Eastern Europe Attacks come from the Republican party In March of 1947, he responds Federal Employee Loyalty Program Loyalty Review Board Purpose was to investigate federal employees
The Loyalty Review Board Attorney General lists 91 subversive organizations Between 1947 and 1951 3.2 million employees were investigated Further review could occur before a board 27,000 full scale investigations 212 dismissals 2,900 more dismissed Truman now uses anti-communist fervor to gain support for his money programs
Fear of Social Change Communist fear lead to fear of changes in other aspects of society Feared the changing of gender roles Role of Women The Civil Rights Movement was suspected of being Communist
House Un-American Activities Council Had its roots in the Overman and Fish Committees Investigated Germans, Bolsheviks, and Communists Dies Committee in 1938 chaired by Martin Dies Guilt by association Used ex-members of organizations as snitches They found 563 names on a leftist mailing list An additional 1,000 were sympathetic to totalitarian regimes
HUAC Attacks Hollywood Thought there was communist propaganda in movies HUAC calls 43 witnesses in September of 1947 Most “friendly” Ten “unfriendly” Hollywood responds with a “blacklist” Hollywood begins to pump out tons of anti-communist movies
The McCarran Act and Its Impact Sought to punish communist ideas Made it illegal to plan an overthrow Required organizations to register with the AG Americans could lose citizenship Truman vetoes the McCarran Act Congress passes the law over his veto Kind of like the Patriot Act of the 1950s
Spies? In America? In 1945 the Amerasia is accused of spying Editor pleads guilty In 1948 Alger Hiss is accused of spying Whittaker Chambers claims to have microfilm They convict him on charges of perjury Served 44 months in a federal prison Declassified information points to his guilt
Other Spy Cases In October of 1949, eleven leaders of the American Communist Party are convicted In 1950 Judith Coplon is convicted One of the first major convictions Worked in the Justice Department FBI figured out what she was going Set her up using fake documents
The Rosenberg’s: A Spy Case that Rattles the Nation Soviet Union detonates their “bomb” in September of 1949 Klaus Fuchs had been passing secrets to Soviets Fuchs admits to giving away information Implicates Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Found guilty and sentenced to death Executed by electric chair in June of 1953
Other Cold War Spy Cases Aldrich Ames is convicted in 1994 Named American assets Robert Hanssen pleads guilty in 2001 Sold out American spies Neither received the death penalty
The Witch Hunt Begins Joseph McCarthy is a Wisconsin Senator Not a very good one Decides to play on fears in America Starts to throw out wild accusations In no way supported by fact This comes to be known as McCarthyism Accusing someone without proof
The Witch Hunt Begins February 9, 1950, Wheeling, West Virginia Speech to Republican Women’s Club Claims to have a piece of paper with names Number of names varies Distorts information to the Senate Republicans don’t try and stop him He now makes a grave mistake
McCarthy Accuses the Army Accuses members of the Army Results in nationally televised hearings Bullies witnesses Appears dishonest McCarthy falls from favor after the hearings McCarthy upsets everyone in four years Dies of alcoholism three years later http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO2iiovYq70
Impact of McCarthyism Distrust in the people around you McCarthyism is alive and well today Instead of communism, we fear terrorism We question the patriotism of people We eliminate rights in the name of national security