Cold War at Home and the Red Scare. - PowerPoint Presentation

Cold War at Home and the Red Scare.

objectives Describe how the US government fought the Cold War in America. Describe the events of the Red Scare.

Essential Question Were the measures taken by the Government to counteract the Red Scare justified ? Support your answer.

War time or Peace time? Truman had Power much like a wartime President would. Federal government focused on: Continue to spend massive amounts of money on the Military. Increased spending on surveillance, both foreign and domestic. Vast difference from FDR’s New deal and social and domestic reforms.

National Defense 900,000 in Federal Workforce. 10% in security works. Government employed 1 million people. 75% worked in National Security Pentagon (opened in 1943) largest office building in the world. 35,000 military personnel worked there. Ties between armed forces and the state department began to intertwine. Military officers began to fill positions at the S tate Department.

The National Security Act of 1947 Congress passed it, with Truman’s encouragement. Established the Department of Defense and National Security Council. Administer and coordinate defense policies and to advise the President. Created the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Obtain political, military and economic information around the world. Classified organization, secret from congress and public. Historians estimate that size and number of employees dwarfed The State Department.

Loyalty Acts Federal Employees Loyalty and Security Program. Barred members of Communist party or anyone sympathetic or associated with them from federal employment. Employee could be released upon reasonable grounds of belief of disloyalty. Many states enacted loyalty programs. required public employees, including teachers to take loyalty oaths. Nearly 500 workers were fired, more than 6,000 resigned.

Group Organization targeted Attorney General Clark published a list of potentially subversive organizations. Criteria of identification was vague. Designed to screen federal employees, but outlawed many political and social organizations. Church associations, civil rights organizations, summer camps all were targeted. Membership to any group could cause immediate dismissal from any government position. Even past membership would be a cause for firing.

Individuals targeted The McCarran Act Against Truman’s veto, Truman thought it was a huge violation of freedoms. Required all Communist organizations to register with the Subversive Activities Control Board. Authorized the arrest of suspicious persons during national emergencies. Immigration and National Security Act Truman vetoed this bill as well. Barred people considered subversive or homosexual from becoming citizens or even visiting the country. Communists could be deported even if they had become citizens.

House Un-American Activities Committee ( Huac ) Long standing suspicions Hollywood was a source of communism. HUAC formed to investigate entertainment industry. Could subpoena witnesses and force them to answer all questions.

HUAC Results Tried an actress in the Pro-Soviet film Tender Comrade . Forced to say a pro soviet line. Film The Song of Russia tricked Americans by showing Russians smiling. Studios announced no actor, writer, technician who didn’t denounce communism would never work in the industry again.

Friendly and unfriendly witnesses Friendly Witnesses- Would intimidate or pressure witnesses into giving names of friends or colleagues who could be potential communists. Included Ronald Reagan and Robert Taylor Most people named a communist career’s would be over. One exception- Lucille Ball Unfriendly Witnesses- Small but prominent minority wouldn’t cooperate Many of these actors and directors were in films celebrating the working class or attacking fascism. Included: Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles

Alger Hiss and Pumpkin Papers HUAC opened a trial against Whittaker Chambers, Time Magazine Editor. Chambers admitted to being a communist. He named Alger Hiss, State Department Veteran and former Roosevelt Advisor as a fellow communist. Hiss Denied affiliation with communism. Chambers revealed “Pumpkin Papers” Republican Representative Richard Nixon said it was the most serious acts of treason in American History.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Julius, former government engineer. Accused of stealing and plotting to give the Soviets atomic secrets during WWII. The case rested on testimony of their supposed accomplices, one secretly coached by the FBI. 1951, Jury Found them guilty. Americans had no Sympathy for them. Around the World, people wanted clemency. Included Albert Einstein, The Pope, and the President of France Executed by the Electric chair in 1953

Senator Joseph McCarthy In a Lincoln Day Speech, McCarthy claimed he had a list of 200 communists working in the State Department. Including Secretary of State Dean Acheson. First of many attacks against political rivals. He accused all democrats of being soft on communism and “losing” China.

MCCarthyism Was more like show biz. Unknown Jr. Senator found a platform and ran with it. McCarthy made communism bigger than a political issue. “Better dead than red.” Went after African Americans, Jews, Foreigners. People who wouldn’t fight back.

Used Communism to attack changing sexual mores Accused girl’s schools and woman’s colleges as some of Russia’s most Loyal disciples. With FBI reports, Federal Government fired up to 60 homosexuals a month. Homosexuals dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces. Critics of the Cold War were considered communist, or not “real” men or woman.

McCarthy's tactics He used intimidation from the media to his advantage. Asked “Are you now, or have you ever been, a Communist?” Doctored Photos of political rivals. Both Conservatives and Liberals compared Communists to Satan. Paranoia of communism was everywhere. McCarthy and fellow Red Hunters eventually burned themselves out. McCarthy was called out on TV. He looked deranged when he couldn’t call out a singe communist.

Legacy of McCarthyism Many state and federal laws stayed in tact for years after McCarthy was discredited. Freedoms of speech and assembly had been limited. Dissent was dangerous.

Essential Question Were the measures taken by the Government to counteract the Red Scare justified?