Second Red Scare

Continued fear about communism stemming from the Cold War.
Political cartoons and their implications regarding societal anxieties around communism.
Comparison to calling wolf: The legitimacy of concerns about communist infiltration.

Fear gripped American society, affecting both domestic politics and international relations.
Communism is viewed as both an international threat and a domestic issue.
The sacrifice of civil liberties for national security was a recurring theme throughout American history (e.g., Japanese internment).
Immigration from Europe

Established in 1938 to investigate allegations of communist and fascist activities.
Extended investigations to various groups labeled as the political left.
Significance increased after 1947 due to high-profile hearings.

Allegations of communist infiltration into essential sectors: government, schools, and entertainment industries.
George Keenan: Feared the political left would be used to convert the U.S. to communism.
Similar discussions to those during the First Red Scare, following World War I.
1938: Investigate Communist and Fascist Organizations

Laid the foundational American foreign policy regarding the Cold War and the strategy to contain communism.
Enabled HUAC to target anyone deemed un-American—including civil rights discussions, equality initiatives, and governmental complaints.

Ferret out suspected communists
Use of subpoenas, hearings, and public interrogations to press individuals about their political affiliations.
Direct pressure on subpoenaed individuals to name others involved in communist activities.
Pleading the Fifth Amendment led to adverse inferences regarding guilt.
Consequences of HUAC Investigations:
- Significant negative impacts on the lives of those called before HUAC.
- Careers ruined, blacklisted individuals found it difficult to secure employment.
- Organizations like the NAACP distanced themselves from those targeted by HUAC due to fear of guilt by association.

Claimed that the motion picture industry harbored communists seeking to spread propaganda.
HUAC used this to justify major investigations of Hollywood figures in the 1950s.

The Hollywood 10

A group of 10 actors, writers, and directors who refused to cooperate with HUAC.
Pleaded the Fifth to protect their interests and criticized HUAC’s methods during hearings.
Resulted in contempt charges and prison sentences for all 10.

Many in Hollywood were blacklisted without evidence, leading to career destruction.
Major studios remained silent against these unconstitutional tactics.

Alger Hiss: High-ranking State Department official convicted of perjury related to espionage for the Soviet Union.
Hiss consistently claimed his innocence.

Criticism from various factions, including protests highlighting violations of citizens' constitutional rights.
Argument that HUAC tactics infringed on the First Amendment rights of free speech and political opinion.

Senator Joseph McCarthy: A central figure during the Red Scare who leveraged the fear of communism for political gain.
As his re-election campaign approached, he exaggerated claims about communist ties among government officials to gain support.
McCarthyism: a term used to describe the harassment and persecution of suspected political radicals.
HUAC served as a blueprint for McCarthy’s tactics
Fueled anti-communist hysteria

McCarthy's overreach with the U.S. Army led to his downfall.
The media played a critical role in bringing unethical tactics and abuse of power to public attention, resulting in his censure by Congress.

While McCarthy was censured, the damage inflicted upon numerous individuals was irreversible.

Fear of communism persisted notably even in post-Red Scare America (e.g., societal fears present in the 1990s).
Discussion around the lasting impact of fear tactics and government overreach during this era.

This lecture concluded the discussion on the Second Red Scare, with plans to address the Cold War structure, culture, and nuclear strategy in subsequent sessions.
Emphasis on understanding domestic policies and their political repercussions in the following modules.
Invitation for questions and engagement with the course material.