The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: The Cold War at Home

The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: Great Depression –100,000 in communist party –20,000 by late 1940’s Great Depression –100,000 in communist party –20,000 by late 1940’s Communism in America

The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: Soviet Atomic Weapons In September 1949 Truman announced that the Soviet Union had detonated an atomic bomb. This was a shock to the nation. Truman began to strengthen the nation’s military against a possible Soviet nuclear threat. Communist China Communists in China had gained nearly full control of the country. The Nationalist government (supported by U.S.) of Chiang Kai- shek fled to Taiwan China now controlled by Communist Party under the leadership of Mao Zedong. Americans worried that China increased the Communist threat to the U.S. Growing Fear of Communism

The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: President Truman felt he had to take action. Created a plan to investigate all federal employees and bar those were found to be disloyal from federal employment. –3 million people investigated –212 found to be disloyal Fighting Communism at Home

The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: Spy cases fueled fear of communism Alger Hiss - accused of being part of 1930’s plot to place Communists inside the government Couldn’t be charged with spying Later convicted for lying under oath Spy cases fueled fear of communism Alger Hiss - accused of being part of 1930’s plot to place Communists inside the government Couldn’t be charged with spying Later convicted for lying under oath Spies in America?

The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: Klaus Fuchs Manhattan Project scientist who gave atomic bomb information to the Soviets Ethel and Julius Rosenberg Accused leading a spy ring Convicted of conspiracy and executed in 1953 Spies in America?

The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: Fighting Communism at Home The Smith Act Passed in 1940 Made it a crime to call for the overthrow of the U.S. government or belong to an organization that did so Upheld by court in 1951 Dennis vs. U.S. –Justified limits on free speech Communist officials convicted Passed in 1940 Made it a crime to call for the overthrow of the U.S. government or belong to an organization that did so Upheld by court in 1951 Dennis vs. U.S. –Justified limits on free speech Communist officials convicted The McCarran Act Passed in 1950 Required communist organizations to register with the U.S. government Established a board to investigate Communist involvement Prevented communists and radicals from entering U.S. Passed in 1950 Required communist organizations to register with the U.S. government Established a board to investigate Communist involvement Prevented communists and radicals from entering U.S.

The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: House Un-American Activities Committee investigated radical groups in the United States Focused on battling communism Created in the 1930’s Most famous investigation HUAC collected names of 10 Hollywood writers and directors thought to have radical political views The “Hollywood Ten” refused to answer questions and were arrested for contempt House Un-American Activities Committee investigated radical groups in the United States Focused on battling communism Created in the 1930’s Most famous investigation HUAC collected names of 10 Hollywood writers and directors thought to have radical political views The “Hollywood Ten” refused to answer questions and were arrested for contempt 2 nd Red Scare

The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: Herbert Biberman, Martin Popper, Robert W. Kenny, Albert Maltz, Lester Cole, Dalton Trumbo, John Howard Lawson, Alvah Bessie, Samuel Ornitz, Ring Lardner Jr., Edward Dmytryk, Adrian Scott. “Hollywood Ten”

The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: “A conspiracy so immense” McCarthy claimed that there were 205 known Communists working for the U.S. Department of State Though evidence proved otherwise, his accusations stirred fear in many Americans Became famous for “fighting” Communism His tactic of spreading fear and making baseless charges became known as “McCarthyism” McCarthy claimed that there were 205 known Communists working for the U.S. Department of State Though evidence proved otherwise, his accusations stirred fear in many Americans Became famous for “fighting” Communism His tactic of spreading fear and making baseless charges became known as “McCarthyism”

The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: Became even more wild with his charges Attacked fellow Republicans and the U.S. Army Public came to view his tactics as unfair. Became even more wild with his charges Attacked fellow Republicans and the U.S. Army Public came to view his tactics as unfair. McCarthy’s Fall

Communism and the threat of the atomic bomb dominated life in the 1950s Fallout (radiation left over from an atomic blast) Americans began to build fallout shelters Life during the Cold War

The Early Cold War: The Early Cold War: Nuclear Preparedness The “Kidde Kakoon” came equipped for a 3-5 day underground stay, including a chemical toilet, nonelectric clock, canned food and water, protective apparel, and pick-and-shovel tool (“for digging out after the blast”) School children practicing “duck and cover”