The Red Scare and McCarthyism

causes of the red scare (5)

1. the rivalry between USA and the Soviet union after Japan 1945

2. Communism started to spread across Eastern Europe which scared Americans (china and Korean war)

3. Russia imposed the Berlin blockade on West Berlin which showed that Stalin was prepared to risk a war with America

4. president truman set up the truman doctrine and marshall plan which scared people further

5. russia developed their first atomic bomb in 1949

when did hiroshima and nagasaki happen

1945

when did china become communist

1949

when was the truman doctrine

1947

when was the marshall plan

1948

how much did the USA provide to turkey as part of what plan?

$400 million
truman doctrine

when did russia develop their first atomic bomb

1949

who was alger hiss

a prominent lawyer who worked closely with president Roosevelt

what was alger hiss tried for and when?

perjury in 1950

what did the alger hiss conviction lead to

although he was never proved communist, people felt communism had infiltrated the highest levels of US government

when were the rosenbergs executed

1953

effect of the rosenbergs execution (2)

there was insufficient evidence at the time, so many believed in was unfair

people started getting scared that their neigbours were communist

how many people lost their jobs due to the federal loyalty boards?

3000 people

which act allowed the fbi to investigate those who worked on the atomic bomb

1946 atomic energy act

which act restructured the US military

1947 national security act

when was HUAC set up and why

1938 to monitor extremist party activities in the us (eg Nazi)

what did the taft hartley act do

declared workers strikes illegal and forced trade union leader to declare they were anti communist

what did the hollywood ten refuse to do

refused to testify against communism, pleading the first amendment (freedom of expression)

What did McCarthy do in February 1950

he claimed a list that held 105 people responsible for communism in the USA

features of mccarthys hearings (3)

1. bullied witnesses to confess to things they didn’t do

2. stop witnesses from answering

3. assume refusal to answer as guilt

who supported McCarthy? (3)

1. war veterans

2. christian fundamentalists

3. poorer people

reasons for McCarthys downfall(6)

1. his bullying tactics

2. the growth of opposition in the media

3. he accused top army officials

4. there was evidence of his own corruption

5. he never found a spy

6. korean war ended and people were not scared anymore

impact of McCarthyism (5)

1. the red scare and fear in americans

2. thousands lost their jobs, careers and reputations

3. reduced influence of trade unions

4. laws discriminating against communist organisations (communist control act 1954)

5. increased stigma and discrimination in society

what did the communist control act of 1954 do?

made it illegal to communicate with communist idea in any form