1. The Start of the
Cold War and the
Second Red Scare
How is the great fear of Communism during the Cold
War relevant to today? Are we, as Americans, fearful of
other ideologies?
2. Communism is a sociopolitical
philosophy that abolishes social classes
to create a stateless society in which
decisions are made based on the best interest
of the collective society.
Also referred to as “Revolutionary
Proletarian Socialism” or “Marxism”.
Communism is enclosed in two Writings:
1). Communist Manifesto (Karl Marx)
2).Principles of Communism
3. The Clash Between the United
States and the Soviet Union
The United States and Soviet Union viewed the
postwar world differently.
The United States believed in democrat
government and capitalistic society, whereas the
Soviet Union believed in a communistic economy
and totalitarian government.
The USSR helped install Communist – dominated
governments in Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania
(1945).
4. Winston Churchill told an American audience,
an “iron curtain” had descended across
Europe, separating the “free” democratic
nations of the west from the “captive”
Communist nations of the East.
5.
6. The Second Red Scare 1947- 1957:
Americans fear of the Soviet
Union spreading communism across the
word through revolution.
Liberals openly admitted there was a
threat for communism
and they took on an anti-communist
position.
In 1949 ten well known U.S.
communists were sent to jail
for 5 years.
7. The House Committee on Un-American Activities
(HUAC)
Created in 1938
Held publicized investigations to prove that under
Democratic rule the government had tolerated or
encouraged communist subversion.
Committee turned to the movie industry, arguing
communist were in Hollywood and American films had
communist propaganda.
“The Hollywood Ten” – Writers and Producers were
called to testify and when they refused to do so they
were sent to jail.
8. Loyalty Checks and Internal Security: (1947)
Under Executive Order, President Truman created the
Federal Employee Loyalty Program.
More than 3 million government workers were
investigated and cleared, 2,000 resigned, and around 200
were dismissed from their jobs.
Workers had to take a loyalty oath – stated that was not
or has never been part of the Communist Party
Internal Security Act or McCarran Act: (1950)
Required Communist and Communist Organizations to
Register with the Attorney General, also prohibited
employment of communist in the defense department
9. Republican elected the Wisconsin Senator to
Congress in 1946.
In 1950 during a speech he claimed to have a list
detailing known communist working for the State
Department.
Exploited fear of communism and attacked the
government on its inability to counter it to
increase his own political standing.
10. Blacklisted public servants
Listed 205 state department workers … little to
no evidence
House on Un-American Activities Committee
Summoned 2300+ men and women costing
them their jobs
400 went to jail with lack of a free trial
The Hollywood Ten
9500 civil servants dismissed including teachers
11. Fear: Accused often left lawyer-less,
lawyers feared being labeled communist
of communist sympathizers
Invasion and censorship of Hollywood
HUAC investigated Hollywood
Oscar nominated Sam Jaffe –
progressive not a communist, reduced
from career in Hollywood to teaching
math
(Fewer the 10 percent of those
blacklisted would get their jobs back)
1th Amendment implications
Freedom of speech… unless McCarthy
thinks you’re a communist
12.
13. John Henry Faulk- comedy radio host fired for
“communist disloyalty” sued AWARE in ‘57 and
won in ‘62 creating a precedent for blacklisted
celebrities
Yates vs. US(57) – overturned conviction of 14
communist on grounds of insignificant
evidence
Watkins vs. US(57) – curtailed power of HUAC
Kent vs. Dulls(58) – halted State Department
power to refuse or revoke a passport based on
communist beliefs
14. In 1954 the Watkins Committee lead by Senator
Arthur Watkins was opened to investigate
McCarthy on charges of contempt of the
Subcommittee on Rules and Administration and
abuse of General Zwicker.
He was found guilty and this verdict destroyed
his political career .
Without his drive the anti-communist drive lost
steam.
The HUAC would lose power and prestige after
McCarthy’s fall and would finally disband in 1975.
15. Today McCarthyism is used to refer to the practice of making
poorly supported accusations, attacking a persons
patriotism, and using accusations of disloyalty to force a
person to submit to popular policy or discredit a person
Many comparison are drawn between hunt for communist
back then and the hunt for terrorist today
Right accuses left of interfering in the War on Terrorism like
they impeded hunt for communist
Left accuses right of overreacting and abusing civil rights to
hunt shadows
