History lecture 11 McCarthyisms

High Noon (1952)

Film seen as an allegory for McCarthyism; Sheriff Will Kane stands alone against criminals as townspeople refuse to help out of fear; symbolizes Americans' fear and conformity during McCarthyism.

HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee)

Created in the late 1930s to investigate alleged radicals and communists; became central to anti-communist investigations during the Second Red Scare.

First Red Scare (1919)

Earlier wave of anti-communist hysteria used to suppress dissent and 'club' political opponents after WWI.

Second Red Scare (Post-WWII)

Period of intense fear of communism (late 1940s-1950s) marked by loyalty programs, blacklists, and McCarthy's rise.

Harry S. Truman

WWI veteran and accidental president after FDR's death in 1945; faced major postwar challenges including inflation, housing shortages, and labor strikes.

Postwar Economic Problems

After WWII, price controls were lifted leading to inflation; housing shortages occurred as soldiers returned; wave of strikes for higher wages hurt Truman's popularity.

1946 Conservative Landslide

Republicans gained control of Congress; focused on anti-communism and weakening labor unions.

'Right to Work' Laws (1947)

Laws stating employees didn't have to join unions; weakened union power and justified through anti-communist rhetoric.

Loyalty Security Program (1947)

Required investigation of federal employees for alleged communist ties; made it nearly impossible to defend oneself from accusations.

Whistle Stop Campaign (1948)

Truman's cross-country train campaign; he criticized the 'do-nothing Republican Congress' and won reelection by connecting with everyday Americans.

The Fair Deal (1949)

Truman's domestic program extending the New Deal: expanded Social Security, public housing, higher minimum wage, proposed national healthcare, and supported civil rights.

HUAC vs. Hollywood

Hollywood accused of communist influence; actors, writers, and directors investigated, leading to blacklists.

Hollywood Ten (1947)

Ten writers and directors refused to testify before HUAC; cited the First Amendment and were jailed; symbolized resistance to McCarthyism.

Ronald Reagan and HUAC

As head of the Screen Actors Guild, Reagan cooperated with HUAC investigations into alleged communists in Hollywood.

Dennis v. United States (1951)

Supreme Court upheld convictions of Communist Party leaders under the Smith Act for advocating overthrow of the government.

Alger Hiss Case (1948)

Former State Department official accused of spying by Whittaker Chambers; convicted of perjury after 'Pumpkin Papers' (confidential documents) surfaced.

Whittaker Chambers

Former communist who accused Alger Hiss of espionage; produced the 'Pumpkin Papers' as evidence from his farm.

Pumpkin Papers

Secret government documents allegedly given by Alger Hiss to Chambers; hidden in a pumpkin on Chambers' farm; used as key evidence in the trial.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

Executed in 1953 for allegedly passing atomic secrets to the Soviets; case heightened Cold War paranoia.

Senator Joseph McCarthy

Republican senator from Wisconsin who claimed in 1950 to have a list of communists in the U.S. government; became the face of the Red Scare.

Tail-Gunner Joe

Nickname for McCarthy, referencing his staged role as a WWII airman; helped build his patriotic image.

McCarthy's Communist List (1950)

McCarthy falsely claimed to have a list of 205 (later 57, etc.) communist infiltrators in government; numbers constantly changed.

Robert F. Kennedy and McCarthy

RFK briefly worked for McCarthy's committee; both were Catholic and strongly anti-communist.

Eisenhower and McCarthy

President Eisenhower quietly opposed McCarthy but avoided direct confrontation until McCarthy's popularity declined.

Edward R. Murrow

CBS journalist who exposed McCarthy's lies and fear tactics on his show See It Now, helping turn public opinion against him.

McCarthy vs. the Military (1954)

McCarthy accused the U.S. Army of harboring communists after they refused favors for his aide Roy Cohn; televised hearings exposed McCarthy's bullying.

Roy Cohn

McCarthy's chief counsel who demanded special treatment for his friend; his actions triggered the Army-McCarthy hearings.

Joseph Welch

Famous for rebuking McCarthy during the Army hearings: 'Have you no sense of decency?' — turning point in McCarthy's downfall.

Army-McCarthy Hearings (1954)

Televised hearings that revealed McCarthy's abusive tactics; led to his censure by the Senate.

Censure of McCarthy (1954)

The U.S. Senate formally denounced McCarthy for misconduct, ending his influence.

Death of McCarthy (1957)

McCarthy died of cirrhosis (alcohol-related liver disease) after his political downfall.

Levering Act (1950)

California law requiring teachers to sign a loyalty oath affirming they were not communists; refusal could result in firing or prosecution.

Definition of 'Communists' under McCarthyism

Anyone suspected of disloyalty or left-wing sympathies — including teachers, union members, and artists.

Legacy of McCarthyism

Became a symbol of fear-driven politics, false accusations, and suppression of free speech during the Cold War.

'New' Aspect of McCarthyism

Reflected real Cold War stress and fears of Soviet infiltration.

'Old' Aspect of McCarthyism

Drew from a long U.S. tradition of political and social intolerance.

Right and Left Complicity

Both conservatives and liberals participated in or enabled anti-communist witch hunts.

High Noon as Allegory

The sheriff's isolation mirrors those who resisted McCarthyism — abandoned by fearful communities.

Overall Meaning of McCarthyism

More than just McCarthy himself; a national climate of fear, conformity, and the erosion of civil liberties.