the cold war, the red scare, and m c carthyism
DESCRIPTION
The cold war, the red scare, and M c Carthyism. The cold war. Definition: Open yet restricted rivalry/hostility between U.S . and Soviet Union and respective allies 1947 – 1991 Never featured direct military action. Competing Ideologies and Beliefs . - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
THE COLD WAR, THE RED SCARE, AND McCARTHYISM
THE COLD WAR
•Definition: Open yet restricted rivalry/hostility between U.S. and Soviet Union and respective allies •1947 – 1991•Never featured direct
military action
COMPETING IDEOLOGIES AND BELIEFS
United States vs. Soviet UnionDemocracy vs. Communism
THE COLD WAR•U.S. & Britain feared Soviet/communist
expansion in W. Europe and beyond • Soviets determined to
keep control of E. Europe•Quickly became an “arms
race” – who could build the most destructive weapons
UNITED STATESDemocratic government: • supreme power vested in people• free electoral system•power exercised directly by
people or elected agents
UNITED STATESCapitalism:•economic system • investment made/ownership
maintained mainly by private individuals/corporations, including production, distribution, exchange of wealth
UNITED STATES
Freedom of expression:•Arts•Entertainment•Media•Religion
SOVIET UNIONCommunist government: • All economic/social activity controlled
by oppressive state • dominated by single
political party in continuous control
SOVIET UNION•People incapable of choosing
leaders•Repressed all opposition•Demanded rigid
obedience •No religious tolerance
DISTRUST AND PROPAGANDA
•U.S. and Soviet Union assumed very worst of each other•No peace or
reconciliatory talks •Emphasized the
threat from the other to their citizens
DISTRUST AND PROPAGANDA• Sent spy satellites /agents to check
each other’s activities
DISTRUST AND PROPAGANDA
•Politicians referenced and declared U.S. / U.S.S.R. threatened world peace
MILITARY BUILDUP
• Cold War resulted in massive military buildup.
• “Arms Race” - Both sides stocked up on atomic, hydrogen, nuclear weapons.
MILITARY BUILDUP
•Use of these weapons would ensure complete annihilation of both countries.
•Created massive fear among citizens.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQF7vdXK184
THE (SECOND) RED SCARE1950 - 1954
THE EFFECTS OF FEAR• Fear of communism dominated American politics • Shaped foreign policy•Americans feared
individuals who supported ideas/objectives of Communist Party might overthrow U. S. gov.
THE 1950s•Gov. agencies/politicians carried out
overzealous executive/legislative investigations of political dissenters•Disregarded individuals’
basic constitutional rights
THE ANTI-COMMUNIST CRUSADE
•Nation embarked on crusade •Goal - root out communist
influence in American wherever evidence of treason could be found.
PUBLIC FEAR• Communism a national obsession •Miss America contestants asked for
their views on Karl Marx, Communism's founder • Cincinnati Reds baseball
team changed name to Redlegs
PUBLIC FEAR•Movies, books, TV and radio
shows, comic books, celebrities, politicians all warned about the "Red menace."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByvXINerE_k&list=UU5rNjpSthkvMIyWdason_5g&index=1&feature=plcp
MCCARTHYISM
DEFINITION OF TERM• the practice of making accusations of disloyalty,
subversion, or treason w/out proper evidence• Originated during “Red Scare”
(1950 – 1954) in U. S. , time of heightened fears of communist influence and Soviet spies
JOSEPH McCARTHY•Born 1908/died 1957• Consider one of least qualified,
most corrupt politicians of his time•Waged vicious campaign to expose
Communist spies in U.S. gov.•Never found one, but fueled national hysteria
called the “Red Scare”
POLITICAL AMBITION• End of first term, McCarthy took advantage of
nation’s fanatic terror against communism • Feb. 9, 1950: claimed to have
list of 205 known-members of American Communist Party within the State Department
POLITICAL AMBITION•Am. public went crazy with thought of
radical communists living in U. S.•Demanded investigation of
underground agitators •Most on McCarthy’s list not
communists
McCARTHY'S PERSECUTION
• McCarthy’s false accusations/unrelenting publicity:
– Caused many to lose their jobs
– Produced popular attacks/ judgment/accusations on others
– Destroyed reputations
HOLLYWOOD BLACKLIST
•Mid-20th-century list of screenwriters, actors, directors, musicians, composers, etc. denied employment because of political beliefs/associations, real or suspected
HOLLYWOOD BLACKLIST• Artists barred from work on basis of:
– alleged membership in/ sympathy toward American Communist Party
– involvement in liberal/ humanitarian political causes blacklist enforcers associated with communism
– refusal to assist investigations into Communist Party activities
HOLLYWOOD BLACKLIST• Caused direct damage to careers of many American
artists
• Lead to betrayal of friendships
• Ruined personal/professional relationships
• Promoted censorship across entire industry