consider: Have you ever been accused of doing something where you were guilty until proven innocent? essential question: How did fear and conformity define 1950s American society?

Red Scare: fear that communists were working to destroy the American way of life

ways that we see the Red Scare affect American society: House Un- American Activities Committee (HUAC) accused people of communist activities (i.e. Hollywood Ten)

blacklists were used by Hollywood executives to deny work to any possible communists

spy cases scared Americans (i.e. Alger Hiss) going as far as executing the Rosenbergs without strong evidence

McCarthy’s “witch hunt” o McCarthyism—extreme, reckless charges of disloyalty; Joseph McCarthy used fear of communism for political gain

Miller wrote The Crucible in 1953 during the McCarthy period when Americans were accusing each other of Pro-Communist beliefs. Many of Miller’s friends were being attacked as communists and in 1956, Miller himself was brought before the House of Un-American Activities Committee where he was found guilty of beliefs in communism. The verdict was reversed in 1957 in an appeals court.

Army-McCarthy hearings in ’54 help America see that the red scare went too far. Senator McCarthy speaking during the Army-McCarthy hearings, 4/28/54 By the time of the Army-McCarthy hearings, many Americans thought the red scare had gone too far.

Army-McCarthy hearings in ’54 help America see that the red scare went too far.

What does the cartoon to the right say about the post-WWII Red Scare in America?