18.3 THE COLD WAR AT HOME

FEAR OF COMMUNIST INFLUENCE At the height of World War II, about 80,000 Americans claimed membership in the Communist Party People feared that these Communists’ first loyalty was to the Soviet Union A naval intelligence officer had stolen classified documents and passed them to a pro-Communist magazine A naval intelligence officer had stolen classified documents and passed them to a pro-Communist magazine

THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON UN- AMERICAN ACTIVITIES (HUAC) Investigated possible Communist influence Investigated possible Communist influence Wanted to rid Hollywood of suspected Communist influences Wanted to rid Hollywood of suspected Communist influences

THE HOLLYWOOD TEN Decided not to cooperate with the committee because they believed that the hearings were unconstitutional They were sent to prison Hollywood executives instituted a blacklist Hollywood executives instituted a blacklist  A list of people whom they in effect condemned for having a Communist background

ALGER HISS A former Communist spy, Whittaker Chambers, accused Hiss of spying for the Soviet Union A former Communist spy, Whittaker Chambers, accused Hiss of spying for the Soviet Union A jury convicted him of perjury-for lying about passing documents-and sent him to jail

THE ROSENBERGS September 23, 1949, Americans learned that the Soviet Union had exploded an atomic bomb Ethel and Julius Rosenberg Ethel and Julius Rosenberg Minor activists in the American Communist Party Minor activists in the American Communist Party Found guilty of giving the secrets of the atomic bomb and given the death penalty Found guilty of giving the secrets of the atomic bomb and given the death penalty

MCCARTHY LAUNCHES HIS “WITCH HUNT” Senator Joseph McCarthy, a Republican from Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy, a Republican from Wisconsin Made one unsupported accusation after another Made one unsupported accusation after another Attacks on suspected communists in the early 50’s McCarthyism McCarthyism McCarthy claimed to have in his hands the names of 57, 81, and 205 Communists in the State Department McCarthy claimed to have in his hands the names of 57, 81, and 205 Communists in the State Department Whenever he was challenged he would respond with another accusation

MCCARTHY’S DOWNFALL 1954, McCarthy made accusations against the U.S. army 1954, McCarthy made accusations against the U.S. army Senate condemned him for improper conduct Senate condemned him for improper conduct Three years later McCarthy died