The Red Scare in America

The Red Scare (1950s) Rumors and accusations that Communists were infiltrating US government Began in 1945 Clerk named Igor Gouzenko found with documents revealing a massive effort by the Soviet Union to steal information on the atomic bomb. This case stunned Americans and implied that spies had infiltrated the U.S. government.

The Loyalty Review Program Established by Harry S. Truman Helped increase fear that communism sweeping the nation. 6 million federal employees screened for their loyalty. Might be suspect for reading certain books, watching foreign films, traveling overseas, or belonging to certain organizations. Some government employees quit job or were fired for “questionable loyalty” although no actual evidence against them was uncovered.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Investigated Communist and Fascist activities in the U.S. Exposed Communists and the Communist sympathizers Hollywood put on trial because fear that the film industry was using its power to spread Communist ideas. Infamous Question: “Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?” “Hollywood Ten” refused to testify pleading the 5th amendment. Led to blacklisting: anyone who was believed to be a Communist or who refused to cooperate with HUAC could no longer work in Hollywood

Spies in America??? Alger Hiss accused of giving secret documents from the State Department to Soviet Union by Walter Chambers Hiss Denied being a spy or a member of the Communist Party HUAC held hearings to determine Hiss’s guilt or innocence. The “pumpkin papers” – microfilm that was hidden in a pumpkin on Walter Chamber’s farm containing copies of the documents proving Hiss’s was lying. Hiss was convicted of perjury. He served 44 months in prison.

The Rosenbergs It was believed the Soviets could not build the Atomic Bomb without help. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were arrested and charged with heading a Soviet spy ring. Convicted and executed in 1953 for sending secrets to the Soviet Union. In 1946, British and American cryptographers working on “Venona” cracked Soviet spy code. Messages collected in Project Venona confirmed extensive Soviet spying and ongoing effort to steal nuclear secrets. Although not made public until 1995 by the U.S. government, the Venona documents provided strong evidence that the Rosenbergs were guilty.

McCarthyism Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed to have a list of 205 employees who had infiltrated the U.S. Government. Began a witch-hunt for Communists in the U.S known as McCarthyism. Led to the passage of the Internal Security Act (aka McCarran Act) which was trying to fight “treachery, infiltration, sabotage, and terrorism”. McCarthy looked for Soviet spies in the U.S. Army. Army Attorney forced McCarthy to back down Lesson: public fear of traitors can lead to intolerance and discrimination.

Life during the Cold War https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw60 Americans were shocked when the Soviets had tested the Hydrogen Bomb (H-Bomb) in 1953. Schools practiced “duck-and-cover” drills to protect themselves from a nuclear bomb blast. Although these drills made Americans feel safe, they would not have protected them from fallout, the radiation left over after a blast. To protect from fallout, some families built backyard fallout shelters and stocked them with canned food.

Images of Fallout Shelters