1950 s Cold War KOREAN WAR AND MCCARTHYISM

1950 s Cold War KOREAN WAR AND MCCARTHYISM

Korean War June 25, 1950 – North Korean forces sweep across the 38 th Parallel and attack South Korea beginning the war. ◦ 38 th Parallel: boundary dividing North and South Korea (38 degrees North Latitude)

Korean War North Korea nearly conquers South Korea and UN troops. ØGeneral Mac. Arthur sent, leads a successful counterattack and nearly unites Korea ØChina sends reinforcements and forces them to retreat across 38 th Parallel War ends in stalemate in July 1951

Mac. Arthur vs Truman §Before war ended, Mac. Arthur recommends attacking China § Calls for use of nuclear weapons against Chinese cities. §Truman rejects his request § China had a mutual-assistance pact with USSR § Feared it would start WWIII

Truman vs. Mac. Arthur §Mac. Arthur spoke and wrote privately to newspaper & magazine publishers, and especially Republican leaders. §Truman fires him on April 11, 1951 § Majority of Americans were outraged. § 69% supported him §“Old soldiers never die, they just fade away”

“Cold” America

New Red Scare Fear of Communism spreads heavily

The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Began investigating Communist influence in the film industry in 1947 § Walt Disney included § Hollywood Ten §Blacklist – A list of people condemned for having a Communist background § Approx. 500 actors, writers, producers and directors had their careers ended.

I spy a communist spy §Alger Hiss – accused by a former communist spy of spying for the USSR § Microfilm of government documents were claimed to be written on Hiss’s typewriter § Too much time had passed to convict him of espionage, but he was convicted of perjury

The Rosenbergs Julius and Ethel Rosenberg § § Minor activists in American Communist Party Accused of leaking information about A-Bomb to Soviets No concrete evidence against them, Executed by electric chair in June 1953 § First US Civilians executed for espionage

Sen. Joseph Mc. Carthy §Most famous anti-communist senator § Needed an issue to help him get re-elected § Charged that communists were taking over the government §Mc. Carthyism – unfair tactic of accusing people of disloyalty without providing evidence. § At various times, Mc. Carthy claimed to have in his hands the names of 57, 81, & 205 Communists in the State Dept. Yet he never actually produced a single name. § Only did this in the Senate, where he had legal immunity that protected him from slander. §His downfall was making accusations against US Army in 1954 § Nationally televised Senate investigation displayed his bullying of witnesses

Other anti-communist measures §By 1953, 39 states had passed laws making it legal to advocate the violent overthrow of the government. § Later ruled unconstitutional §In Indiana, professional wrestlers had to take a loyalty oath. §Union leaders, librarians, newspaper reporters, authors, and scientists were investigated. §Declaration of Independence experiment.

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