Communists in America What happens during the Red

Communists in America What happens during the “Red Scare”?

Late 40 s Red Scare • Republicans claim Truman was soft on Communism, claim communists may have infiltrated govt • Truman sets up Loyalty Review Board to investigate “disloyal” govt employees, 3. 2 million employees dismissed House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), 1947 • HUAC investigated non-government industries, goes after Hollywood film industry (Hollywood unions comply) • Hollywood Ten were entertainers who refused to testify, some sent to prison others “blacklisted” from Hollywood http: //www. y outube. com/w atch? v=ds 2 S DTFXIg. M

HUAC Political Cartoon 1. Identify people & objects 2. Identify actions & words 3. Identify symbols 4. What point is cartoonist trying to make about HUAC?

Alger Hiss Case • Hiss (US diplomat) accused of spying for the Soviet Union, prosecuted HUAC • Hiss claimed innocence, sent to prison for perjury (10 yrs) Ethel & Julius Rosenberg • Suspected in helping the Soviets develop their atomic bomb • Denied guilt, but plead the 5 th about being communists, found guilty & executed https: //www. youtube. com/w atch? v=s-6 Bf. Cbrvu. M

Mc. Carthyism • Republican Senator Joseph Mc. Carthy begins his own televised investigation of Communists in America • Mc. Carthy claims he has evidence of communists in gov & media • CBS news reporter Ed Murrow goes after Mc. Carthy (states Mc. Carthy has weak evidence) • Mc. Carthy loses support of Eisenhower & public • After being censured by the Senate, he dies 3 years later