McCarthyism and Life during the Cold War

Background McCarthy (Rep.) accused his opponent of being communistically inclined when he ran for Senate in 1946 Accused Democrats of protecting communists -called Sec. State Acheson a tool of Stalin -called former army chief staff & sec. state George Marshall of disloyalty and of conspiracy ***Charges never had proof

Red Scare Continues 1949 – Soviet Union tests the atomic bomb 1949 – China falls to communism It seemed like the US was losing the Cold War and that communists had infiltrated the US gov’t 1950 – WI Senator: “... I have here in my hand a list of 205 that were known … as being members of the Communist Party who … are still shaping the policy of the State Department.” AP and newspapers drew attention to this

McCarran Act McCarran Act (Internal Security Act) – communist groups must register w/ gov’t; communists could be arrested -made it illegal to “conspire” to create a totalitarian gov’t 1952 – McCarthy is now chair of investigation committee -used power of his committee to force testimonies -witch hunt – based on weak evidence and wild fears He damaged people’s reputations with vague and unfounded charges (= McCarthyism) -He badgered witnessed & refused to accept answers -People were afraid to challenge him (they didn’t want to become targets themselves

McCarthy goes Down 1954 – McCarthy started looking for Soviet spies in the US army Millions watched these Army-McCarthy hearings Army’s lawyer: “Until this moment, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or recklessness … You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir?” Senate votes to censure (formal disapproval) McCarthy -no power

Life During the Early Cold War Red Scare and spread of nuclear weapons had huge impact on American life in the 1950s. Americans were shocked when soviets tested the a- bomb in 1949 and H-bomb in 1953 Bomb shelters, drills: “duck & cover” -for every person who died from nuclear impact, 4 more would die from radiation (fallout) Some people built fallout shelters and stocked them with canned food

Popular Culture in Cold War Worries about nuclear war & communism soon found their way into TV, film, songs, & books Arthur Miller’s The Crucible (‘53) – cautions on how hysteria can lead to false accusations -critical of communist witch hunts Tomorrow – describes the horrible effects of the atomic bomb on an unprepared US city Hiroshima – first hand accounts of 6 survivors 1950s – a time of contrasts – Americans experiencing prosperity & optimism while also dealing with fears of communism and nuclear war