1. #34 Ch.18.3 Notes The Cold War at Home:
OBJECTIVE: Understand the effects of the Cold War in America.

2. I. Fear of Communist Influence
Communist takeover of E. Europe and China fuel fear of its spread.
100,000 in U.S. Communist Party; some fear may be loyal to USSR.

3. Truman accused of being soft on Communism.
Sets up Federal Employers Loyalty Program to investigate U.S. government employees.
Investigate 3.2 million, dismiss 212.
Truman soft on Communism?

4. The House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigates Communist ties in U.S.
Investigate Communist influence in movie industry (Hollywood)
Hollywood blacklist --- people with Communist ties, cannot get work.

5. The McCarran Act- law that made it unlawful to plan action that might lead to totalitarianism in U.S.

6. II. Spy Cases Stun the Nation
Alger Hiss accused of spying for USSR; convicted of perjury.
1949, Soviets explode atomic bomb sooner than expected.
Physicist Klaus Fuchs admits giving information about U.S. bomb.
Implicates Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, minor Communist Party activists.
Sentenced to death.

7. III. McCarthy Launches His “Witch Hunt”
Senator Joseph McCarthy a strong anti-Communist activist.
Ineffective legislator; needs help to win reelection.
McCarthyism --- attacking suspected Communists without evidence.
He claims there are Communists in State Department.
Why do Americans believe him?

8. McCarthy’s Downfall: He accuses members of U.S. Army.
TV hearings show him bullying witnesses.
Loses public support; condemned by Senate for improper conduct.

9. States, towns forbid speech favoring violent overthrow of government.
Millions forced to take loyalty oaths, are investigated.
No profession was safe from the hunt for Communists.

10. Quickwrite
Think of a time when you were accused of something that you were innocent of…. How does it compare to people unjustly accused of being communist during the 1950s?
Answer the following questions….
Who accused you and why?
What was the accusation? Was it true?
Did others believe the accusation?
Were you treated differently or punished because of the accusation?