1. Korean War and Mccarthyism
1950s Cold War
Korean War and Mccarthyism

2. Korean War
June 25, 1950 – North Korean forces sweep across the 38th Parallel and attack South Korea beginning the war.
38th Parallel: boundary dividing North and South Korea (38 degrees North Latitude)

3. Korean War War ends in stalemate in July 1951
North Korea nearly conquers South Korea and UN troops.
General MacArthur sent, leads a successful counterattack and nearly unites Korea
China sends reinforcements and forces them to retreat across 38th Parallel
War ends in stalemate in July 1951

4. MacArthur vs Truman Truman rejects his request
Before war ended, MacArthur recommends attacking China
Calls for use of nuclear weapons against Chinese cities.
Truman rejects his request
China had a mutual-assistance pact with USSR
Feared it would start WWIII

5. Truman vs. MacArthur
MacArthur spoke and wrote privately to newspaper & magazine publishers, and especially Republican leaders.
Truman fires him on April 11, 1951
Majority of Americans were outraged.
69% supported him
“Old soldiers never die, they just fade away”

6. “Cold” America

7. New Red Scare
Fear of Communism spreads heavily

8. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
Began investigating Communist influence in the film industry in 1947
Walt Disney included
Hollywood Ten
Blacklist – A list of people condemned for having a Communist background
Approx. 500 actors, writers, producers and directors had their careers ended.

9. I spy a communist spy
Alger Hiss – accused by a former communist spy of spying for the USSR
Microfilm of government documents were claimed to be written on Hiss’s typewriter
Too much time had passed to convict him of espionage, but he was convicted of perjury

10. The Rosenbergs Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
Minor activists in American Communist Party
Accused of leaking information about A-Bomb to Soviets
No concrete evidence against them,
Executed by electric chair in June 1953
First US Civilians executed for espionage

11. Sen. Joseph McCarthy Most famous anti-communist senator
Needed an issue to help him get re-elected
Charged that communists were taking over the government
McCarthyism – unfair tactic of accusing people of disloyalty without providing evidence.
At various times, McCarthy claimed to have in his hands the names of 57, 81, & 205 Communists in the State Dept. Yet he never actually produced a single name.
Only did this in the Senate, where he had legal immunity that protected him from slander.
His downfall was making accusations against US Army in 1954
Nationally televised Senate investigation displayed his bullying of witnesses

12. Other anti-communist measures
By 1953, 39 states had passed laws making it legal to advocate the violent overthrow of the government.
Later ruled unconstitutional
In Indiana, professional wrestlers had to take a loyalty oath.
Union leaders, librarians, newspaper reporters, authors, and scientists were investigated.
Declaration of Independence experiment.

17. 1950s America http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzjOYY0g4wQ
As you watch, write what you think life was like during the s