Red Scare & McCarthyism

Post-WWII Context

-U.S.–Soviet tensions rising after 1945

-Americans fear spread of communism abroad and at home

-Nuclear arms race heightens anxiety

-Government pushes idea of constant vigilance against internal threats

Red Scare

-Widespread fear that communists had infiltrated American society

-Not the first Red Scare (another occurred after WWI)

-Linked to global events: USSR atomic bomb (1949), China becomes communist, Korean War

-Led to suspicion toward immigrants, intellectuals, government workers

-That fear made people react emotionally, not rationally

Accusations and “Evidence”

-You accused people based on tiny clues: hesitation, avoiding eye contact, standing alone, acting nervous, etc.

-You relied on gut feeling, rumor, and “vibes”

-No one had actual evidence — because none existed

-Once someone was accused, more people piled on

-People felt pressured to agree with the group to “stay safe”

Loyalty Programs

Truman’s Loyalty Review Program (1947):

• Investigated federal employees for “subversive” ties

• Thousands questioned; many lost jobs without formal charges

-Created climate of fear in workplaces

-Encouraged states and private companies to create their own loyalty oaths

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

-Congressional committee originally formed in 1938; revived during Cold War

-Investigated alleged communist influence in:

• Government

• Labor unions

• Universities

• Hollywood

-Used aggressive questioning and public hearings to pressure witnesses

-Refusal to answer could result in contempt charges or blacklisting

Senator Joseph McCarthy

-Wisconsin senator who claimed to have a list of communists in government

-No real evidence presented

-Became symbol of aggressive, unsubstantiated accusations

-Used mass media (TV, radio, newspapers) to spread fear

Why Was McCarthy So Influential?

-Americans fearful after:

• Soviet atomic bomb

• Chinese Civil War won by communists

• Korean War

-Politicians feared being seen as “soft on communism”

-Media gave McCarthy enormous attention before fact-checking became standard

Accusations and “Evidence” - Historical Connection

-HUAC and Senator McCarthy also used very weak or nonexistent evidence

-People were blacklisted based on suspicion, rumor, and association — not proof

-Once someone was named, it became almost impossible to defend themselves

Hollywood and Blacklisting

-HUAC focused on film industry to combat perceived communist “propaganda”

-Hollywood Ten: writers/producers who refused to testify were arrested and jailed

• They had no way to prove they weren’t communists

-Many actors, writers, directors “blacklisted”

• Could not find work even without evidence

-Shows how fear restricted speech and careers

Alger Hiss Case

-Former State Department official accused of being a Soviet spy

-Trials highly publicized → fueled belief in hidden communist networks

-Hiss convicted of perjury, not espionage

-Strengthened anti-communist political voices

The Pressure to Conform - Historical Connection

-During McCarthyism, people were afraid to speak up:

• Colleagues stopped defending each other

• Friends cut ties

• Studios, companies, and politicians distanced themselves from anyone accused

-Conformity became a survival strategy

Emotional Drivers

-Fear — of being wrong, of being targeted

-Suspicion — questioning everyone’s motives

-Paranoia — thinking anyone could be hiding something

-Anger or frustration — at being accused or not trusted

-Desperation — wanting to join a safe group

-These are the same emotions that fueled the Red Scare

-McCarthyism wasn’t just political — it was emotional manipulation powered by fear

Julius & Ethel Rosenberg

-Accused of passing atomic secrets to USSR

-Convicted and executed (1953)

-Case deepened national panic about nuclear espionage

-Still debated: fairness of trial vs. fear-driven justice

Why People Became Attackers - Historical Connection

-McCarthy and HUAC gained power by accusing people

-Ordinary people accused coworkers to protect themselves

-Blacklisting created a system where attacking others was rewarded

The “No Way to Know” Problem - Historical Connection

-In the real Red Scare, Americans also had no reliable way to know who was actually a communist

-McCarthy used this uncertainty to make himself seem like the only one who could “identify” the enemy

-Innocent people suffered because the burden of proof flipped — the accused had to prove innocence

McCarthy’s Downfall

-Army-McCarthy Hearings (1954): televised investigation of McCarthy’s claims

-Americans watched his bullying tactics firsthand

-Senate condemned him for misconduct

-Public opinion turned against him → end of McCarthyism

Impact on American Society

-Climate of fear, conformity, and suspicion

-Limited freedom of expression

-Teachers, government workers, and activists most vulnerable

-Encouraged self-censorship

-Long-term distrust of government investigations

HUAC

-Worked like the game — calling people forward based on rumors or associations

-People pressured to name others, even without evidence

Blacklisting

-Just like being labeled a “dot,” being accused ruined careers

-No formal trial, no defense — just suspicion

McCarran Act

-Laws created out of fear rather than evidence of real danger

Rosenbergs / Hiss

-High-profile cases where the public reacted strongly, sometimes without full evidence

McCarthy

-Used the same strategy students used in class:

• Loud, confident accusations

• Offering no proof

• Using fear to control people

• Making people afraid to speak against him

Army–McCarthy Hearings

-When the accusations became too extreme, and the public finally saw the tactics used

Takeaways

-McCarthyism was not about finding communists. It was about how fear can override logic, evidence, and fairness

-The Dot Game shows how easy it is to fall into:

• Accusing others to save yourself

• Believing rumors

• Targeting innocent people

• Acting out of fear instead of facts