The Red Scare, 1947-mid-1950s Why? Post-war U.S. rivals, China & the Soviet Union, were run by Communists Fear over communist success in Asia and Eastern Europe Failure to keep the atomic bomb the exclusive property of the U.S. 100,000 Americans in the Communist Party Who?—important anti-Red figures HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) Led by Republicans (Richard M. Nixon) Example: Hollywood Ten and the blacklist Joseph McCarthy: Senator from Wisconsin

HUAC

The Hollywood Ten 10 witnesses that didn’t cooperate with HUAC HUAC believed propaganda was being snuck into films Believed it was unconstitutional and were jailed Many Protested in their behalf The Hollywood blacklist List of people condemned for having communist ties or background Around 500 actors, writers, directors could not get work.

Hiss and Chambers Whittaker Chambers Alger Hiss Self-proclaimed communist and Time magazine editor Alger Hiss Former member of FDR’s State Department Chambers told HUAC that Hiss had given info to the Soviet spies Hiss denied the charges, but found guilty of perjury and spent 5 years in jail Catapults Richard Nixon to fame (VP within 4 years)

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Feb 1950: Revealed that a German-born physicist, Klaus Fuchs, had given atomic secrets to the Soviets Among his allies were a New York couple, the Rosenbergs They were charged with getting information from Ethel’s brother who worked on the U.S. bomb project in New Mexico Appealed to Supreme Court and Rosenbergs maintained their innocence. Convicted of treason and executed in 1953 (electric chair)

“McCarthyism” Term used to describe the search for communists in the U.S. government Making accusations of treason/suspected communists without evidence Led by Senator McCarthy Feb. 1950 charged that 205 communists were working in the State Dept. Claims were unfounded, yet, they fed the growing fear of the time & McCarthy was an instant celebrity In 3-4 years, McCarthy did not uncover a single communist, yet his investigations ruined multiple careers and made the U.S. look ridiculous He was censured by the Senate in 1954 and eventually fell out of the public eye Died from alcoholism in 1957 alone