Unit 1: The Red Scare and McCarthyism

1. After attempted communist takeover in Greece what did the US do?
2. when was the Berlin crisis?
3. In 1949 what further proved the worldwide conspiracy of communism?
4. When did the US lose atomic monopoly?
5. What did the 1950 invasion of South Korea by the communist North appear to do?
6. What else deepend concern about communist uprisings across South Asia?

1)US offered Europe support (Truman Doctrine) & financial aid (Marshall Plan).

2)1948-9 the first major showdown of the Cold War, seemed to be evidence of Soviet aggression.

3)Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War

4)The USSR also developed the atomic bomb in 1949, breaking the USA’s atomic monopoly and shaking US confidence.

5)appeared to further justify fears of Sino-Soviet expansionism.

6)With France and Britain retreating from colonies

1. When was the House Committee on Un-American Activities set up?
2. Who was FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover?
3. When were ‘Loyalty checks’ introduced?
4. How many were investigated?
5. What did public hearings carried out by HUAC serve to further encourage?
6. What were fellow travellers?
7. Who else began to use government ‘loyalty’ criteria to rid their organisations of ‘subversives’ ?

1)1938 to investigate fascist or communist influence in unions.

2)virulent (destructive) anti-communist and supported HUAC by testifying and passing on intelligence.

3)In March 1947 the federal government introduced ‘loyalty checks’ for government employees, meaning they could be investigated and dismissed for being suspected communists.

4)3 million were investigated and 3,000 fired or forced to resign.

5)fear of ‘reds under the bed’

6)those who were not members of the Communist Party, but sympathised with its aims.

7)Other employers (e.g.: schools, industry)

1. What culminated in the prosecution of the ‘Hollywood Ten’?
2. What happened to the hollywood ten?
3. What else did the case result in?
4. How was Alger Hiss?
5. When was he convicted?
6. What did his conviction seemed to prove?
7. When were the Rosenbergs convicted and for what?

1)In 1947, fear grew of Hollywood spreading communist propaganda

2)the Hollywood Ten were held in contempt and jailed for a year,. An unofficial Hollywood ‘blacklist’ named around 300 people – only 10% of whom ever worked in film again.

3)The case publicised the work of HUAC and demonstratively anti-communist films were produced (e.g.: The Red Menace).

4)January 1950

5)that spies had penetrated the highest offices.

6)In 1951 the Rosenbergs were convicted of treason, which seemed to explain how the USSR had detonated an atomic bomb.

1. What did the August 1950 McCarran Act do?
2. What did the 1952 the McCarran Act do?
3. How did McCarthy denounce the President

1)forced all communist organisations to register with the government.

2)deny communists passports and certain jobs, and to allow detention without trial.

3)“sold out the Christian world to the atheistic world.”

1. Why did President Eisenhower televise the Army-McCarthy hearings?
2. When were they televised?
3. What did McCarthy accuse George Marshall of being?
4. What did televised hearings expose?

1)in order to publicly discredit McCarthy.

2)In April 1954

3)mentally ‘equivalent to 5 year olds’

4)his bullying, hectoring and unsubstantiated accusations to a now-critical national audience.

1. an example of anti-McCarthy articles and programmes released
2. When did cold war tensions ease?

1)An increasing number of anti-McCarthy articles and programmes were released, e.g.: ^^See It Now episode in March 1954^^.

2)1953 with the end of war in Korea and the death of Stalin.

1. How many anti-communist films were made
2. What rights were trampled
3. what shaped America’s foreign policy for decades.
4. Ellen Schrecker
5. other

1)40 (books also removed from libraries)

2) First amendment rights (to free speech) and civil rights to equal protection were trampled (1950-2, 117 jailed for contempt).

3)Charges of disloyalty drove many experts away from government service

4)“McCarthyism had so seriously narrowed the American political spectrum that even today, it takes considerable bravery for politicians to openly espouse such “socialist” ideas as universal health care or nuclear disarmament.”

5)Individual careers and reputations were ruined, causing economic difficulties and damaging families. McCarthyism reduced America’s standing in the world and was a propaganda coup for the communist USSR.

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