Chapter 21, Section 4 The Cold War at Home

Worrying About Communists at Home What was the basis of the Red Scare? The 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. This led to the Red Scare of the 1920s. This diminished in the 1930s, only due to the Great Depression, and subsequent onset of WWII. Fear that communism would destroy the U.S. Communism would prevail over democracy– U.S. would become un-democratic.

Worrying About Communists at Home Truman sought to ensure no disloyalty in the federal government by passing Executive Order 9835. This established a Loyalty Review Board, questioning 3 million government employees in total, and encouraging employees to take a loyalty oath. Congress attempted to broaden the search for Communists. The House of Representatives formed the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). The most notable hearings of those suspected of Communism involved those in the movie industry. One group in particular, known as the Hollywood Ten, were blacklisted for being linked to communism.

Spy Cases Worry Americans The paranoia brought on by the Red Scare threatened individuals from all social classes. Alger Hiss was a prominent man accused of having contacts with known Communist, Whittaker Chambers. Hiss was convicted and sentenced. The fact that such an influential man could be linked to Communism shocked Americans. Who was the man who had tried the case against Hiss? Richard Nixon The notoriety of this case would help Nixon later in his run for the presidency.

Spy Cases Worry Americans The trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg generated national attention. The couple was accused of selling atomic secrets to the Soviets. What happened to the Rosenbergs? They were tried, and plead innocent. They claimed they were targeted because they were Jewish. They were both sent to the electric chair in 1953. It was later found that Julius was guilty of espionage, but Ethel knew very little, if anything. Similar court case???

McCarthy Uses Ruthless Tactics In 1950, a senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy announced in a speech that he had names of known Communists in the State Department. The State Department deals with foreign countries– most likely to have contact with communists from other countries. When McCarthy accused members of the U.S. Army of being communist, the televised hearings led many Americans to be shocked at his bullying tactics and lack of evidence. McCarthyism: the making of extreme and reckless allegations of communism.