1. Chapter 18 Section 3
The Cold War at Home

2. Fear of Communist Influence
Many Americans concerned about security of the US
Domination of Eastern Europe and spread to China fueled fear of Communist expansion

3. Fear of Communist Influence
Many factors led to growing suspicion of Communism in the US
80,000 Americans claimed membership in the Communist Party
People feared communists 1st loyalty was to the Soviet Union

4. Fear of Communist Influence
State Department workers stole classified documents and passed them to a pro-Soviet magazine
Soviet agent defected and showed documents that a Soviet spy was stealing info about the atomic bomb

5. Fear of Communist Influence
Republicans accused Truman administration of being soft on Communism
Truman thought too much was being made of Communist threat…but had to answer critics

6. Loyalty Review Board
Investigate federal employees and dismiss those found to be disloyal to US govmt.
Never established a clear definition of “loyalty”

7. Loyalty Review Board
Congress drew up a list of 92 subversive organizations
Membership in these organizations would draw suspicion
investigated 3.2 million govmt. Employees
Dismissed 212 as security risks

8. Loyalty Review Board
2,900 quit b/c they didn’t want to be investigated
Said it was a violation of constitutional rights
People were not allowed to see the evidence against them
Not allowed to know who accused them of being disloyal

9. House Committee on Un-American Activities
HUAC-hunted for communist spies inside and outside the US government
1947-began to investigate communist influences in the movie industry

10. House Committee on Un-American Activities
Hollywood did contain a number of:
Communists
Former Communists
Socialists
Hollywood also mad several pro-Soviet films during WWII
- Since the SU was our ally

11. The Hollywood 10 HUAC subpoenaed 43 witnesses from the film industry
Many witnessed were “friendly”-supporting allegations that communism had infiltrated the film industry
10 “unfriendly witnesses testfied

12. The Hollywood 10
Decided not to cooperate with the committee-believed the hearings were unconstitutional
Sent to prison for refusing to answer questions

13. The Hollywood 10
In response to hearings Hollywood instituted a Blacklist
A list of people condemned for having a communist background
500 actors, directors, and producers blacklisted-could no longer work in films

14. McCarran Act
Passes in 1950
Made it illegal to plan any action that may lead to totalitarian dictatorship in the US
Truman vetoed it
Congress overrode the veto

15. Alger Hiss
1948-Whittaker Chambers-a former communist spy-accuses Hiss of spying for the Soviets
Produces documents to prove Hiss was a spy
Government denied and fought against the evidence

16. Alger Hiss Too many years had passed
Hiss could no longer be charged w/ espionage
Jury convicted him with pergury-sent him to jail

17. Alger Hiss Richard Nixon gained fame for pursuing charges against Hiss
Within 4 years he was vice-president
Hiss claimed his innocence until his death
Soviet documents prove his guilt in the 1990s

18. The Rosenbergs September 23, 1949-Soviets explode atomic bomb
American experts thought it would take 3 to 5 more years
Did the Soviets steal American atomic secrets?

19. The Rosenbergs
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg- implicated in helping a British scientist give the Soviets American atomic secrets
Minor activists in the American Communist Party

20. The Rosenbergs Rosenbergs denied charges
Plead 5th amendment-so they would not incriminate themselves
Claimed they were being persecuted b/c they were Jewish and for holding radical beliefs

21. The Rosenbergs Found guilty Given death penalty Executed in June 1953
Rosenbergs are mentioned in the same Soviet documents that suggest Hiss was guilty

22. Joseph McCarthy Republican senator from Wisconsin
Charged that communists were taking over the government

23. McCarthy’s Tactics Made a number of accusations Lacked evidence
This became known as McCarthyism-accusing people of disloyalty without evidence
NOTE: He wanted an investigation, not a trial, an investigation searches for evidence, it doesn’t provide any beforehand…or else they wouldn’t need an investigation to find the evidence…

24. McCarthy’s Downfall Investigated US Army Televised investigation
Came across as a bully
Lost public support
Died in 1957