8.3 The Red Scare

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Explain the causes and effects of the Red Scare after World War II

INTRODUCTION

  • Second red scare WW2 (js like first in WW1)

    • Truman’s administration sought communist conspiracy in civil wars throughtout Europe & Asia

      - contributed to belief that communist infiltrated American socierty

ROOTING OUT COMMUNIST

  • Loyalty Review Board (pressure from Republican critics)

    • Investigated background of 3 million federal employees

      - thousands of officials & civil service members resigned/got fired

PROSECUTIONS UNDER THE SMITH ACT

  • Leaders of the American Communist Party were jailed (advoated a coup)

    • Dennis et al. v. United States (1951)

      - Supreme Court upheld constitutionality of Smith Act (made it illegal to advocate or belong to organization of overthrowing gov)

MCCARRAN INTERNAL SECURITY ACT (1950)

  • Congress passed McCarran Internal Security Act

    - Made it unlawful to support or establish totalitarian gov

    - Restricted employment & travel of those joining communist orgs

    - Allowed for the creation of detention camps for subversives

UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES

  • House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

    • Was originally established to seek out Nazis (1939)

      - reactivated to seek communist

      - investigated gov officials and communist influence orgs (Boy Scouts, Hollywood film industry)

      - those who refused to tesitify were tried for contempt of congress

      - some where blacklisted from their industries (not hired)

CULTURAL IMPACT

  • 2nd scare had chilling effect on freedom of expiression

    • Creators of nior dramas & playrights were labeled anti-american

      - included Aurther Miller (Death of a Salesman)

      - Rogers and Hammerstien (South Pacfifc) was labeled as communistic assault on racial segreation

    • Loyalty oaths were required of writers & teachers for employment

      - American Civil Liberties Union & other opponents argued 1st amendment protected expression of political views & orgs

    • Artist and writers responded

      - Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” (discussed blind tradition w deadly results)

      - Playwright Lillian Hellman (refused to name names to HUAC & became blacklisted)

      - Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” (used Salem witch trials to criticize Red Scare)

ESPIONAGE CASES

  • Communist conspiracy were supported by real spy cases globally

    • Methods for indentifying spies raised questions over gov

      - people feared gov was violating civil liberties

HISS CASE

  • Whittaker Chambers (former Communist) accused Alger Hiss of being a soviet spy, providing classified documents to Soviets

    • Hiss denied communist accusations

      - was still convicted perjury and sent to prison

      - trial reaised fears of communist spies in high gov positions

ROSENBERG CASE

  • First soviet atomic bomb test—→ worried Americans about stolen tech

    • Britist scientist Klaus Fuchs (worked on Manhatten project)

      - admitted giving A-bombs secrets to Russians

    • Further spy ring traced back to Julius & Ethel Rosenberg

      - were found guilty of treason & executed

      - civil rights groups argued hysteria caused their fate

THE RISE AND FALL OF JOSEPH MCCARTHY

  • Republican senator Joseph McCarthy used fears to advance his career

    • Claimed to have a list of 205 communist in state department

      - press publicized this sensational—→ McCarthy gaining power

      - other politicans feared damage McCarthy’s accusing finger

MCCARTHY’S TACTICS

  • McCarthy used stream of unsupported accusations to keep media focused

    • Attacked Truman’s administration & wealthy elities

      - Working-class Americans supported him at first

      - Republicans disliked his tactics, but he mainly hurt Democrats

      - President Eisenhower avoided challenging him

ARMY-MCCARTHY HEARINGS

  • Televised hearings on communist infiltration in army exposed McCarthy

    • McCarthy was seen as a bully by millions

      - Republicans joined democrats to censure McCarthy

      - McCarthyism (campaign against alleged communist) died out

DECLINE OF THE RED SCARE

  • Fear of Communist takeover in US became overblown

    - Cooler heads gained control & booming economy pushed fear

    - Language, tactics, & threats of McCarthyism remained concern