Hunting Communists at Home A dramatic fear of communism and communist spies spread across the nation. The House of Representatives even created a committee to investigate people accused of Communist activity.

McCarthy’s reckless claims: · In 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin announced that he had a list of 205 State Department employees that were members of the Communist party. Joseph McCarthy: Senator that accused many Americans of being Communists.

Blacklist If McCarthy suspected you, you were put on this list where no one wanted to hire you.

· McCarthy’s claim was never proven, but he helped to increase a fear of communism in America known as the “Red Scare”. · After thousands of Americans had their lives ruined after being accused of being communists, McCarthy’s popularity lessened as the nation learned that he had no proof behind his accusations.

Example of American fears of Communism: Americans, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, were accused of stealing nuclear secrets for the Soviets. - The Rosenbergs were executed for their crimes in 1953.

“McCarthyism” Describes how McCarthy made charges against people without real evidence. His accusations ruined the reputations and lives of many people. In 1954 the Senate made a formal statement condemning McCarthy and his actions.

The Cold War got even colder after a comment made by the Soviet Union’s political leader. Nikita Khrushchev was premier of the Soviet Union and head of the Soviet Communist party. In a 1956 speech to ambassadors from Western countries, he said, “History is on our side. We will bury you!” This comment alarmed people in the West!

It led to more suspicion between the Western countries and the Communist countries in Eastern Europe. It also led to an “arms race,” where the U.S. and Soviet Union built lots of weapons and stored them in case of war. Each country also tried to have more powerful weapons than the other one.

In 1949, people began protecting themselves in the case of Soviet Union using a nuclear bomb.