2. Eastern Europe 1944-1945 China 1949 North Vietnam 1954 N. Korea 1945

3. America’s development of the A-Bomb had given the U.S. a massive advantage internationally in the years following 1945. This came to an end in 1949, when the Russians exploded their own A-Bomb. How had the Russians been able to develop their own A- Bomb just four years after the USA?

5. McCarthy fought for a smaller federal government and for controls on labour unions. But he had higher ambitions and wanted to become known nationally. He needed an issue. Elected as Senator to Wisconsin State in 1946

6. The reason why we find ourselves in a position of impotency [weakness] is not because the enemy has sent men to invade our shores, but rather because of the traitorous actions of those who have had all the benefits that the wealthiest nation on earth has had to offer - the finest homes, the finest college educations, and the finest jobs in government we can give. ‘The communists within our borders have been more responsible for the success of communism abroad than Soviet Russia.’

7. “I have here in my hand a list of 205 names that were known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department.”

8. McCarthy brought his Communists-in- government charges to the Senate in late February 1950. But a special Senate committee dismissed McCarthy's accusations for lack of evidence in July.

10. Both were executed in 1951.

11. Alger Hiss [centre] was accused of passing secrets to the USSR when he worked as a State Department official during the 1930s. His accuser was Whittaker Chambers [left], an editor at ‘Time Magazine’ and a former Soviet agent. When Chambers uttered these accusations publicly Hiss launched a libel trial. This lasted from 1948 to 1950 and Hiss was eventually was found guilty of betraying the USA. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. The trial set the scene for the McCarthy witch hunts

12. McCARTHY AND THE SENATE INTERNAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE [S.I.S.S.] These events seemed to support McCarthy’s claim that there were traitors at the heart of American government. In 1950 McCarthy became a member of S.I.S.S. [the Senate Internal Security Sub- committee], leading it in 1953 and 1954. This was the Senate’s main committee for investigating Communists. McCarthy used it to make his attacks on alleged Communists.

13. An American cartoon showing what Senator McCarthy believed, that American Communists were falsely swearing to be loyal to their country while at the same time they were working for the Soviet Union. THE GENERAL PUBLIC BEGAN TO BELIEVE HIM

14. Hollywood was one of the earliest victims of U.S. fears about the spread of communism in the post-war period. In 1947 H.U.A.C. [The House of Un- American Activities Committee, first established in 1937] investigated the loyalty of Hollywood screenwriters, actors and directors. Ten cited the ‘First Amendment’ and refused to testify. Hollywood chiefs had them ‘blacklisted’ and they were forced out of the film industry. This raised the issue of freedom of conscience in the USA. “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?”

16. McCarthy constantly played upon American peoples fears of the threat posed by communism Here he points to a map showing the threat posed to Asia by communist China.

17. Soon hysteria began to sweep through America. Not only State Department officials became victims but any ordinary members of the public who displayed Leftist sympathies. This included not only socialists but trade unionists, teachers and other groups. A Los Angeles car-worker suspected of Communist sympathies is beaten up by workmates.

18. 9,500 federal civil servants were dismissed 15,000 federal civil servants resigned while under investigation 2000 industrial workers were fired 3,800 seamen were fired 600 teachers were dismissed 300 were blacklisted in films, television and radio. 500 state and city employees were sacked 500 were arrested for deportation because of their political beliefs Hundreds of scientists and university teachers lost their jobs

20. November 1945 March 1946 April 1948 November 1953 January 1954 January 1956 December 1956 April 1957 November 1963 YES YES QUALIFIED NO UNDECIDED 48% 39% 13% 45 44 11 36 57 7 19 9 68 4 14 8 73 5 16 6 76 3 20 4 72 4 17 5 75 3 18 10 67 5 ‘In peacetime, do you think members of the communist party in this country should be allowed to speak on the radio?’ 48% 67%

21. Later hearings were televised live. The general public saw for themselves...... for the first time McCarthy’s bullying methods – and did not like what they saw.

22. What political problems is Senator Joseph McCarthy causing President Dwight D. Eisenhower (who won the 1952 Presidential election), according to this cartoon? 3 rd December 1953 – “An Uncomfortable Situation”.

23. Army Chief Counsel Joseph Welch, at right, listens to Senator McCarthy questioning the loyalty of Fred Fisher, one of Welch's legal aides, June 8, 1954.

24. McCarthy produces a map to show the (supposed) spread of communists throughout the US Army during televised hearings in 1954 to investigate his claim that the military was riddled with communists. Joseph Welch [left, the chief counsel for the army) remains unimpressed.

25. Here, McCarthy shows a photo of an American general, apparently, meeting foreign officials independently but the picture had been ‘cropped’ and the general was actually part of an official U.S. delegation to a Communist state.

26. An American newspaper cartoon commenting on Senator McCarthy, May 1954.

27. Even the original list of 205 suspect names produced by McCarthy, was proven to be in fact just a random sheet of paper picked from his briefcase on the spur of the moment.

28. McCarthy's crude tactics and reckless accusations caused other Senators to question his methods. In 1954, his colleagues censured him for disregarding Senate customs. Three years later, while still in office, McCarthy died of acute hepatitis brought on by heavy drinking at the age of 48.

29. Why did so many people believe McCarthy? Cold War fears – the growing influence of Communism seemed to support his accusations McCarthy’s accusations seemed to explain the many set backs experienced by the USA in the immediate post-war period. Examples? McCarthy came across as a patriotic politician fighting dangerous traitors. A defender of American values. McCarthy’s explanations seemed to be backed up by evidence eg. the atomic spies the Rosenburgs Many Americans felt communism would replace democracy in America.

30. 1998 [A] (iii) Why was there a fear of communism in the USA in the years 1945-50? (iv) What methods did Senator Joseph McCarthy use to increase years about communism in the USA in the years after 1950? (7) 1999 [A] (i) What was the ‘red scare’? (3) (ii) Describe the key features of McCarthyism. (4) (iii) Why did McCarthyism decline after 1954? (4) 2000 [B] (i) Why was fear of communism so strong in the USA in the years 1945-54? (6) 15 2001 [B] (i) In what ways did the fear of Communism in the USA develop in the years 1945-54? (15)

31. 2002 [A] (i) What was meant by the term ‘witch hunt’? (3) (ii) Why did a fear of communism develop in the USA in the years 1945 to 1950? (5) (iii) In what ways did Senator Joseph McCarthy try to win the support of most US citizens by the end of 1954? (5) 2003 [B] (i) Why did the fear of Communism in the USA grow so quickly in the years 1945 to 1950? (15) You may use the following information to help you with your answer: Events in Europe after 1945 Alger Hiss The Rosenburgs Joseph McCarthy

32. 2004 [A] (i) What is meant by the ‘Hollywood Ten’? (3) (ii) Why were the cases of Alger Hiss and the Rosenbergs important in the growing fear of communism within the USA? (5) (iii) Describe the key features of the methods used by Senator McCarthy to win the support of US citizens in the early 1950s. (5) (iv) Why had Senator McCarthy lost the support of the US Senate and most US citizens by the end of 1954? (7) 2005 [B] (i) In what ways did fear of communism develop in the USA in the years 1945 to 1950? (15) You may use the following information to help you with your answer: The beginnings of the Cold War The Hollywood Ten The trials of Alger Hiss and the Rosenbergs McCarthyism

33. 2006 [A] Part [A] of this question is about the fear of communism in the USA in the years to 1954. Study the table below and answer all the questions that follow: (i) Give ONE reason to explain why the Cold War in Europe helped to create a fear of communism in the USA in the years 1945-49? (3) (ii) In what ways were the cases of the Hollywood Ten and Alger Hiss important in the growing fear of communism in the USA in the years to 1950? (5) (iii) Describe the key features of the methods used by Senator McCarthy to win the support of US citizens during the early 1950s. (5) (iv) Why had McCarthyism died out by the end of 1954? (7) 1945 End of the Second World War 1947 Hollywood Ten 1947 Federal Employee Loyalty Programme 1945-50 Alger Hiss Case

34. 2007 [B] ( i) Why did the fear of Communism in the USA grow in the years 1945-50? (15) You may use the following information to help you with your answer: Events in Europe after 1945 Alger Hiss The Rosenburgs Joseph McCarthy