McCarthyism & The Red Scare

Senator Joseph McCarthy

Write this down Joseph McCarthy Wisconsin Senator from 1947 -1957 famous for making claims that there were large numbers of Communists and Soviet spies and sympathizers inside the United States federal government and elsewhere

Write this down What is McCarthyism? Definition: campaign against alleged communists in the US government and other institutions carried out under Senator Joseph McCarthy in the period 1950–54.

House Un-American Activities Committee

Write this down H.U.A.C. Definition: House Un-American Activities Committee Definition: an investigative committee in the United States House of Representatives which was meant to look into suspected cases of subversion and disloyalty to the United States government.

Write this down Communism in the Movies 1938 - H.U.A.C. released a report stating many in Hollywood were communist sympathizers Called some of the most famous celebrities to testify before Congress

Write this down Disney Strike 1941 – Walt Disney created advertisements that the strikers were inspired by communism HUAC started to investigate “Reds in the movies”

Ask the question…. "Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?"

Write this down Hollywood Blacklist (1946-47) 10 individuals in Hollywood who refused to answer H.U.A.C.’s questions if they were loyal to the communist party or not. Used their 1st amendment rights to not answer the questions. These 10 men were blacklisted and never worked in Hollywood again

Hollywood Blacklist

Hollywood Stories Ronald Reagan Story William Wilkerson’s rise to power Adolphe Menjou -  "I am a witch hunter if the witches are Communists. I am a Red-baiter. I would like to see them all back in Russia."

Write this down Joseph McCarthy’s information was faked to push a message of fear within the United States. Died in 1957 of liver failure, an alcoholic

CBS News Edward R. Murrow Fought McCarthy against his fear tactics on the American people

Extra Credit Opportunity Watch the film, “Good night, and good luck” Directed by George Clooney, 2005 Write a 2 page response on the movie summarizing its main points and your point of view on the film. Due Friday, February, 27th at 10 AM

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

Conspiracy to commit Espionage Convicted Conspiracy to commit Espionage

Write this down Convicted in March, 1951 for selling the secrets of the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. June 18th, both will be executed by the electric chair.

What is the truth? Julius was a spy – too much evidence Ethel was not – confirmed in 1999 and 2008 she had no knowledge of any espionage. She was a victim of the “Anti-communist” hysteria created by McCarthy and H.U.A.C.