american cold war culture and law mccarthyism and the second red scare
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American Cold War Culture and Law
McCarthyism and the Second Red Scare
Red ScareThe fear of communist and that
communist were going to infiltrate government offices
1949 Red Scare intensifies Soviets test atomic bombChina falls to communism
These events made Americans believe we were losing the Cold War
House UnAmerican Activities Committee (HUAC)Subcommittee of the House of
RepresentativesPurpose: To root out “subversion” of the
American systemThe Question: “Are you now or have you
ever been a member of the Communist Party?”
Hollywood on TrialFirst goal of the HUAC was to focus on the
film industryRonald Reagan was the President of the
SAG, and testified that there were Communists in Hollywood
10 screenwriters, the “Hollywood Ten”, used the 5th amendment and refused to testify Blacklisted
Senator Joseph McCarthyWisconsin Republican facing defeat in
election of 1950Turns to a platform of anti-Communism
Speech to a Republican women’s group in West Virginia
News soon spreads
The List“I have here a list of 205 names that were
made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department.”
Nobody actually saw the list, but that didn’t stop McCarthy from making acquisitions
Helped him get elected
The McCarran ActFormal name: The Internal Security ActTruman vetoed bill, but Congress overrode
his vetoRequires communist organizations to register
with the Subversive Activities Control BoardAuthorizes the arrest of suspect persons
during national emergencyCommunists could not have passportsSix concentration camps built for this purpose
The Immigration and Nationality Act
Another McCarran authored lawBarred people who were deemed either
“subversive” or “homosexual” from becoming citizens or even visiting the U.S.
Power to deport immigrants who were members of the Communist Party, even if they were citizens
In effect until 1973
Definition of McCarthyismThe fear, suspicion, and
scapegoating that surrounded McCarthy, his accusations and the general curtailment of civil rights during the Cold War era.
Examples of McCarthyism
In NYC, citizens must take loyalty oath to receive a fishing license
FDR’s New Deal is re-evaluated as “a socialist conspiracy” and “20 years of treason”
Jonas Salk invents vaccine for Polio; a congressman suggests that it be distributed to all school-age children for free. Eisenhower’s Secretary of Health rejects the idea as an attempt to “socialize medicine through the backdoor.”
McCarthy’s Downfall1954 McCarthy began to look for Soviet
spies in the U.S. ArmyIn the televised hearings, McCarthy often
bullied officers, harassed them about small details, and accusing them of misconduct
Began to lose popularitySenate passed a vote of Censure
Formal disapprovalLost all influence in the Senate
Died in 1957
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