Communism?Communism?Here in the USA?Here in the USA?

NEVER!NEVER!

Spies and IntrigueSpies and Intrigue• 80,000 US Communist Party members in 194580,000 US Communist Party members in 1945

• 2 state department officials stole classified papers2 state department officials stole classified papers

• A Canadian clerk at the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa A Canadian clerk at the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa showed US officials that A-Bomb secrets passed.showed US officials that A-Bomb secrets passed.

• Truman Administration criticized and answered. Truman Administration criticized and answered.

Truman vs. Truman vs. Commies Commies

• Fed. Employ. Loyalty & Security ProgramFed. Employ. Loyalty & Security Program Loyalty Review BoardLoyalty Review Board

• Gov’t. employees investigated & some Gov’t. employees investigated & some

dismisseddismissed

• House Committee on Un-American ActivitiesHouse Committee on Un-American ActivitiesBelieved Communists in film industry!Believed Communists in film industry!500 actors, writers, producer, directors500 actors, writers, producer, directors

BLACKLISTEDBLACKLISTED

• McCarron ActMcCarron Act – Illegal to plan any act leading – Illegal to plan any act leading to a totalitarian state in the US. to a totalitarian state in the US.

By 1949, the Soviets controlled most of Eastern Europe, and it

appeared that China would soon fall to the communists as well.

“…the spread of communism abroad increased anxieties

and frustration at home," wrote Herb Block.

In their zeal to stamp out all signs of communism in the

United States, professional and amateur anti-communists threatened to suppress

American liberties as well.

Sen. Joseph Sen. Joseph McCarthyMcCarthy

1952 – 1954 went 1952 – 1954 went on a “Witch Hunt” on a “Witch Hunt” accused: accused:

-Dem. party of 20 Dem. party of 20 years of harboring years of harboring Communists.Communists.

-205 in State 205 in State Dep’t.Dep’t.

-US Army of being US Army of being infiltrated.infiltrated.

-Censured by Censured by SenateSenate