McCarthyism and the Second Red Scare

NKVD

The state security, intelligence, law enforcement, and overseer of the penal system. Crucial in suppressing political opposition and maintaining internal control.

Comintern (D)

1919. An international organization in Moscow established by the USSR to promote communism worldwide.

House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)

One of the leading organizations against communism.
Exposed the Hollywood Ten.

The Hollywood Ten

HUAC launched an investigation on the film industry and summoned many participants in the industry to testify at public hearings.
10 Witnesses refused to cooperate and were convicted and served short prison terms.
Led to "Hollywood blacklists".

Waldorff Declaration

President of Motion Picture Association of America states they will not employ communists.

Red Channels

The Report of Communist Influence in Radio and Television: A booklet listing 151 writers and artists with a long list of accusations for each person.
Had many factual errors with some having not been communists, but the people found it hard to get a job anyways.

Alger Hiss

A former state department official.
In 1949, he was accused of giving info to the USSR during the 1930's and he was convicted of perjury.

Karl Fuchs

A high-ranking physicist was revealed by the British to be spying for the Russians on the Manhattan Project.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

Found guilty of passing atomic secrets to USSR agents and were sent to the electric chair.

Whittaker Chambers

An ex communist who testified before HUAC and managed a spy ring with many government officials.

Kim Philby

A British double agent for the USSR. His case was an embarrassment to British counter-intelligence capabilities.

Smith Act (D) (What does it form)

1940 Establishes the Federal Loyalty Programme & Executive Order 9835.

Executive Order 9835

Anyone who isn't totally loyal to the USA is a threat to progress.

Federal Loyalty Programme

Establishes loyalty boards (subcommittees) to investigate communists within the executive board.

McCarran Internal Security Act (D)

1950 Required communist organizations to register with the U.S. attorney general & Created Subversive Activities Control Board.

VENONA

A top secret organization that exposed several spies within the Manhattan Project. Reveals itself when it exposes Karl Fuchs.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

A liberal organization which also began purging communists

Election of 1952

McCarthy faces this election and decides to use the Red Scare to his benefit to gain voters.

Lavender Scare (Led to What)

Persecution of homosexuals within the government who were perceived to be traitors. Because the idea that they were susceptible to espionage due to blackmail risks. Led to Executive Order 10450.

Executive Order 10450 (D)

May 1953 Extended the security risk (of being a communist spy) to every civil service job, imposed more strict "morals" tests, and eliminated a defendant's right to a hearing.

Army-McCarthy Hearings (D)

1954 Exposed McCarthy and ended his influence.
A three-month court hearing which was aired on live television.
Joseph Welch (Army's lawyer) -> "Until this moment, Senator, I think I had never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. . . Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"
McCarthy gets kicked tf out 😂