APUSH Unit 8.3

Introduction

• Overview of Unit 8 of the AP US History curriculum focusing on the Red Scare after World War II.

• Objective to explain the causes and effects of the second Red Scare in the United States.

The Second Red Scare

• Differentiation from the first Red Scare related to World War I.

• Context of the second Red Scare: post-World War II America.

• "Red" refers to Soviet communism and the fear surrounding it.

Background Context

• The United States' efforts to contain communism globally.

• Parallel push to root out communism domestically, reflecting societal anxieties.

Key Legislative Efforts Against Communism

• Taft-Hartley Act of 1947

  • Purpose: Response to significant labor union strikes across the nation.

  • Provisions:

  • Made it more challenging for workers to strike.

  • Required union leaders to pledge that they were not members of the Communist Party.

• Federal Employee Loyalty and Security Program

  • Executive order by President Harry Truman, established in 1947.

  • Requirements:

  • Federal employees had to swear allegiance to the United States.

  • Employees denied ties to communism or fascism.

  • Investigative powers to assess the political affiliations of federal workers.

Congressional Actions Against Communism

• House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

  • Formed to investigate suspected communist influences throughout American society.

  • Notable focus on the film industry (Hollywood).

  • Fear that Hollywood could disseminate communist propaganda.

The Hollywood Ten

• In 1947, ten prominent directors, labeled the "Hollywood 10," were identified as communists.

• Actions taken:

  • Summoned to testify before Congress regarding their communist affiliations.

  • Refusal to testify led to contempt of Congress charges.

  • Resulted in brief prison sentences and placement on the Hollywood blacklist, preventing future employment in the industry.

The Rise of McCarthyism

• Senator Joseph McCarthy

  • Gained notoriety for his anti-communist crusade.

  • Delivered a speech in 1950 claiming to have lists of 205 known communists in the State Department.

  • This claim generated widespread panic and suspicion regarding communist infiltration in the U.S. government.

• Reevaluation of the claim: McCarthy later reduced the number to 57 communists but did not provide evidence.

• The term "McCarthyism" emerges from this era of heightened anti-communist sentiment, defining aggressive, unfounded accusations against individuals.

• Congressional hearings ensued, allowing McCarthy to justify his claims, but he failed to produce credible evidence, leading to his eventual censure by the Senate.

The Rosenberg Case

• Historical Event: Execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

  • Date: August 29, 1949, marking the Soviet Union testing its first atomic bomb.

  • Public perception: Belief that the Soviets had stolen atomic secrets from the U.S.

• Accusations: The Rosenbergs, both members of the Communist Party, were alleged to have engaged in espionage.

• Outcome: Executed in 1953, marking a pivotal and controversial point in the anti-communist hysteria.

  • Subsequent assessments indicated that Julius was indeed involved in espionage but debates about the justification of execution continue.

Effects of the Red Scare

• Anti-communist laws enacted at the federal level led to widespread societal paranoia.

• Suppression of labor union rights, with many unions fearing association with communism.

• Hollywood's creative community faced systemic oppression, many directors and actors lost careers due to blacklisting.

• Overall increase in Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union fueled by domestic fears and suspicions.

Conclusion

• The Red Scare and McCarthyism significantly impacted American society, creating a culture of fear and repression regarding political beliefs.

• Legacy includes the enduring suspicion of communism that affected numerous facets of American life during this period.