1. Immediate Impact of the Cold War at Home

2. Essential Question
Did the Cold War have a positive or negative impact on life for Americans?

3. Communism at Home During Great Depression
Thousands of people joined the Communist Party
Why did this happen?
People developed doubts about capitalist systems due to current economy

4. Communism at Home Continued
After WWII
Economy improved
People grew disappointed with communism
Stalin was not compromising with the U.S. at all

6. Communism at Home Continued
Results 
Many American communists quit the party, some remained (active or not)
NEW RED SCARE BEGINS
Concern of spread of communism raised fears of a conspiracy to overthrow the government
Fears sparked a widespread anti-communist crusade
Anyone with any history of Communist Party ties began being persecuted by the government

7. Measure to Prevent a Communist Revolution at Home
The Loyalty Program
HUAC
The McCarran-Walter Act

8. The Loyalty Program
Program launched in 1947 to root out any element of communism that might have infiltrated the U.S. government
Background checks further investigated to see if government employees were engaged in any suspicious activities
Why?
Spread of the Red Scare
Exposure to USSR spies increased anxiety

9. They Loyalty Program Continued
What happened if someone was accused of disloyalty?
Brought before Loyalty Review Board
Board reviewed the case in a hearing
Those accused had little chance to defend themselves and it was difficult to clear their names

10. HUAC HUAC  House of Un-American Activities Committee
Congressional Committee that investigated Communist infiltration of American citizens prior to WWII
Purpose: Investigate loyalty of American citizens prior to WWII

11. HUAC Continued Focused on the Hollywood Industry
Why do you think the HUAC would focus on Hollywood?
Claimed movies had tremendous power to influence the public

12. HUAC Continued 1947 Charged numerous Hollywood figures of:
Spreading communist ideals through film making
Being members of the Communist Party

13. HUAC Continued
Hollywood writers, directors, actors and producers were called to testify
Hollywood Ten: 10 accused Hollywood figures called on their 5th Amendment right, refusing to answer any questions
All ten served jail sentences ranging 6-12 months

14. HUAC Continued Impact of HUAC investigations on Hollywood:
Made everyone nervous
Blacklist produced of people employees agreed not to hire
Anyone who had any tie with communism was on this list
Anyone who denounced the Blacklist was added to it
Studios focused films on pure entertainment avoiding any social problems

15. The McCarran-Walter Act
Law established a quota system for each country, discriminating vs. potential immigrants from Asia and Eastern Europe
Truman vetoed the bill calling it “one of the most un- American acts I have ever witnessed in my public career.”
Passed by Congress in 1952

16. Spy Cases Anger Nation
Americans constantly on lookout for communist activity
2 famous spy cases helped fuel the suspicion that a conspiracy inside the US was aiding communists overseas in their expansion
Anti-communist passions strengthened due to public spy cases

17. Spy Cases Anger Nation Continued
1. Case of Alger Hiss
He was a high ranking State Department official before leaving government service
Accused by a Times magazine writer of being a communist spy in the 30’s
Result  1950 went to prison for 4 years

18. Spy Cases Anger Nation Continued
2. Case of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
Married couple who were members of the Communist Party
Accused of passing atomic secrets to the Soviets during WWII
Result  convicted of espionage and executed in 1953