The Red Scare and Civil Rights in America (1945-1974)
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These flashcards cover key terms, definitions, and concepts related to the Red Scare and civil rights in the USA from 1945 to 1974.
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199 Terms
Red Scare
A period of hysteria and paranoia over the perceived threat posed by Communists in the U.S.
McCarthyism
A term used to describe anti-communist hysteria of the 1950s, characterizing the actions of Senator Joseph McCarthy.
Cold War
An ideological conflict between the USA and USSR characterized by propaganda, military buildup, and no direct fighting.
Communism
An economic and political system where all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
Capitalist democracy
A political system where the government is elected by the people and businesses are owned by private individuals.
Satellite State
A country that is formally independent but is actually under heavy influence or control of another country.
Truman Doctrine
A policy established in 1947 aimed at containing communism and providing support to countries resisting takeover.
Marshall Plan
A US program providing aid to Western Europe, intended to prevent the spread of communism after WWII.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The USA’s domestic intelligence and security service, responsible for investigating and combatting domestic threats.
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
A committee of the US Congress formed to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities.
Hollywood Ten
A group of filmmakers who were blacklisted for refusing to testify before HUAC regarding their alleged communist affiliations.
Alger Hiss Case
A significant espionage case where a US State Department official was accused of being a communist spy.
Rosenberg Case
The trial and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for allegedly passing atomic secrets to the USSR.
McCarran Act
A law passed in 1950 that restricted the rights of communists in the USA and required communist organizations to register.
First Amendment
The amendment of the US Constitution that guarantees freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
FBI Loyalty Program
A program initiated by the FBI to investigate the loyalty of federal employees to the USA.
Espionage
The practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities of a foreign government.
Blacklisted
Being marked as unacceptable and therefore not used, particularly in reference to individuals banned from employment.
Hearings
Sessions in which evidence is presented, often to a legislative body or committee regarding suspected disloyalty.
Joseph McCarthy
A Republican senator known for his aggressive anti-communist tactics and unfounded accusations against government officials.
The Iron Curtain
A term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the division between communist and capitalist countries.
The Atomic Bomb
A weapon of mass destruction that the USA dropped on Japan, leading to a race for atomic weapons between the USA and USSR.
Containment
A US foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism worldwide.
Vietnam War
A conflict in Vietnam where the USA aimed to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.
Political Scandal - Watergate
The political scandal involving President Nixon, leading to his resignation and revealing deep corruption in the government.
Ideological Conflict
A struggle between sets of beliefs or value systems, particularly between capitalism and communism during the Cold War.
Hysteria
An exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, often surrounding specific social issues.
Persecution of Communists
The systemic mistreatment and oppression of individuals believed to be associated with communism.
Fear of Communism
A widespread anxiety among Americans during the Cold War that communism was a threat to their society and values.
Civil Rights Movement
A movement aimed at ending racial discrimination and gaining equal rights for African Americans.
Arms Race
A competition between nations to achieve superior military capability, especially between the USA and USSR.
Espionage Act
A federal law passed in 1917 aimed at punishing acts of espionage and protecting national security.
Cold War Fallout Shelter
Structures built during the Cold War intended to protect individuals from nuclear fallout.
Birmingham
A city in Alabama known for its significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, especially during protests against racial segregation.
Black Panthers
militant civil rights political party created in CA due to police brutality followed Marxist lennist beliefs
Death of emmet till
A pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement, the 1955 murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy, became a catalyst for activism after his death highlighted racial violence and injustice in the United States.