4.2.1 Study: The Red Scare

The Red Scare

Overview of the Red Scare

  • General Public Fear: Fear of the spread of Communism permeated American society during the Cold War.

  • Impact on National Values: Concerns arose regarding Communism as a threat to fundamental American values and beliefs.

  • Political Infiltration: There were worries that Communists were infiltrating positions of power in politics and the entertainment industry.

Historical Context

  • First Red Scare (Post WWI):
      - Occurred after World War I, following the establishment of Communism in Russia.
      - Resulted in a significant decline in American Communist Party membership.

  • Communist Party Membership: By 1929, the number of American Communists had reduced to fewer than 10,000.

  • Re-emergence During the Great Depression:
      - The Great Depression drew some workers toward Communism due to economic hardships.
      - Formation of the Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA), which grew to 40,000 members by 1936.

Legislative Actions Against Communism

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

  • Formation: Established in 1938 to investigate radical groups in America.

Smith Act (1940)

  • Purpose: Made it illegal for any American to support the overthrow of the government or to belong to a group advocating such actions.

Second Red Scare (Post WWII)

  • Fueled by global events and fears of Communism spreading internationally, increased paranoia after the Soviet Union's acquisition of the atomic bomb, leading to fears of national destruction.

Notable Events of the Red Scare

Alger Hiss Incident

  • Alger Hiss: A State Department official accused of passing secrets to the Soviets.

  • Executive Order (March 1947): Issued by President Harry Truman, it instituted loyalty boards to ensure federal worker loyalty.

  • Consequences: Hundreds lost their jobs, and thousands resigned voluntarily.

  • HUAC's Investigation: In 1947, HUAC questioned Hollywood figures regarding Communist influence.
      - Hollywood Ten: A group of ten writers and directors who refused to cooperate with HUAC faced blacklisting and loss of employment.

  • Whittaker Chambers' Testimony:
      - Allegations against Hiss involved claims of membership in the CPUSA and the exchange of government documents with Soviet agents.

  • Outcome: In 1950, Hiss was convicted of lying to Congress under oath.

Rise of McCarthyism

Joseph McCarthy's Role

  • Emergence of McCarthyism: The term became popular in the 1950s, with Senator Joseph McCarthy playing a central role in fostering anti-Communist sentiment.

  • Wheeling Speech (February 1950): Claimed that 200 government employees were Communists, with no evidence to support his accusations.

  • Media Influence: Utilized television to amplify his claims, leading to widespread attention despite a lack of verification.

Characteristics of McCarthyism

  • Definition: Refers to making unproven accusations of Communism, breeding widespread fear.

  • Media's Role: The press reported McCarthy's claims without validating facts, inflating the panic surrounding Communism.

Investigations and Fallout

Continuation Under the Truman Administration

  • Pressure on Loyalty Board Investigations: The Truman administration pursued investigations into the loyalties of federal workers.

  • FBI Involvement:
      - Led by Director J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI collected data about the political views and personal lives of government employees.
      - Inaccuracies in this information often led to unjust firings.

  • Targets: The investigations extended to labor unions, civil rights organizations, and educational institutions that purportedly harbored Communists.

Turning Point Against McCarthy

Edward R. Murrow's Challenge

  • Critique of McCarthyism: In 1954, journalist Edward R. Murrow exposed McCarthy's methods on his show "See It Now" to a national audience.

  • Format: A half-hour segment featured footage of McCarthy's unfounded accusations, with Murrow denouncing his unfair tactics, and urging that silence at that moment was inappropriate.

  • Senate Hearings Conflict:
      - McCarthy's inquiry into military loyalty boards faced significant opposition, with a key moment arising when an Army lawyer called him out for a lack of decency, garnering public support.

Decline of McCarthy's Influence

  • By 1954, McCarthy's prominence diminished, although the underlying fear of Communism persisted.

Aftermath and Continued Anti-Communism

Ongoing Fear and Political Careers

  • Impact on Careers: Individuals who testified or were accused often had to adopt false identities to avoid career backlash.

  • Significance of Richard Nixon:
      - Nixon capitalized on anti-Communist sentiment in his political ascent.
      - Appointed as Vice President to Eisenhower after gaining fame for going after Alger Hiss.

  • J. Edgar Hoover's Extended Pursuit: Continued the anti-Communist campaign long after McCarthy's influence waned.

Hollywood Ten's Struggles and Outcomes

  • Many of the Hollywood Ten faced employment challenges after being blacklisted.

  • Some individuals, such as Ronald Reagan, who opposed Communism during HUAC, later pursued successful political careers, becoming California's governor.

Key Terms:

a. blacklisting: The practice of not allowing certain people rights, privileges, or services for one reason or another. In the United States, this term usually refers to writers and actors who were suspected of having ties with the Communist Party in the late 1940s.

b. Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA): A political party that advances the ideas of Communism, a type of society and government in which all property is owned and controlled by the state, in the name of the people.

c. Hollywood Ten: Ten people in the movie industry who refused to answer questions from the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). The questions were about their ties to the Communist Party. As a result, these people were blacklisted and not allowed to work in Hollywood again.

d. HUAC: The House Un-American Activities Committee, formed in 1938 to look into possible Communist activities. Many people were blacklisted or charged with contempt of Congress for refusing to answer the committee's questions. The committee often charged these people with anti-American activities, even when there was no proof.

e. McCarthyism: The practice of charging people with not being loyal to the United States. The name comes from a time when Americans were afraid of Communism, and Senator Joseph McCarthy made these charges against people without proof.

f. Richard Nixon :(1913 - 1994) The 37th president of the United States. He resigned, or quit, in 1974 because of the Watergate scandal. He ended U.S. involvement in Vietnam and started relations with China.

g. second Red Scare: The fear of Communists infiltrating American society and government. Also known as "McCarthyism" after Senator Joseph McCarthy, who made many unfounded charges of Communist activity.

h. Smith Act: A law passed in 1940 that made it illegal for any American to support the overthrow of the government or to belong to a group that worked for that goal.

i. first Red Scare: The widespread fear of communism that gripped the United States after World War I. The success of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, along with accusations of violence committed by American communists, led U.S. authorities to investigate, search, and arrest thousands of suspected communists.