8.3 The Red Scare

When and why did the red scare happen after 1945?

The Red Scare after 1945 occurred primarily during the late 1940s to the early 1950s, fueled by widespread fears of communist infiltration and influence in the United States during the Cold War. This period was characterized by intensified anti-communist sentiment, resulting in government investigations and a culture of suspicion.

Loyalty Review Board

A U.S. government committee established in 1947 to evaluate the loyalty of federal employees amid fears of communist infiltration.

Smith Act

A 1940 law that made it a criminal offense to advocate or teach the overthrow of the U.S. government by force or violence.

McCarran Internal Security Act

• made it unlawful to advocate or support the establishment of a totalitarian government, restricted the emplyment and travel of those joining the communist front organizations, and authroized the creation of detention camps for subversies

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

• established to seek out Nazis during ww2 and reactivated tgo find communists

what cultural impacts did the red scare have?

• had impacts on freedom of expression

Hiss Case Whittaker CHambers

• Hiss denied being a communist and sending secret documents to chambers, but he was still convicted. it made people wonder if communist speis infiltrated the gov

Rosenberg Case

• spies were julius and ethel rosenberg who sent information regarding the a bomb

Joseph Mccarthy

• used the growing tension regarding communism to fuel his political position

• pointed out that some people were communists