Cold War Spies and the Rise of Joseph McCarthy Todays Objective After todays lesson students will be able to Discuss the legitimacy of the communist threat in the 1950s and how the US handled such threats ID: 602577
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Slide1
Spies Among Us?
Cold War Spies and the Rise of Joseph McCarthySlide2
Today’s Objective
After today’s lesson, students will be able to…
Discuss the legitimacy of the communist threat in the 1950s and how the U.S. handled such threats
Essential Skill
Explicitly assess information and draw conclusionsSlide3
Caution! Possible Infiltration!
1) You will receive a slip of paper. It will either have a dot on it or it will be blank
DO NOT SHOW ANYONE YOUR SLIP OF PAPER NOR TELL ANYONE WHAT IS/ISN’T ON YOUR PAPER
2) Your goal is to try to form the largest group of
studetns
without someone who has a dot. The largest “dot free” group will be rewarded
If you have a dot, your pleasure is in trying to deny others a reward by trying to infiltrate their groupSlide4
Caution! Possible Infiltration
3) You must rely on questioning and/or suspicion in determining who has a dot and who does not. You may not examine each other’s papers.
4) Pay close attention to – and be prepared to discuss – your strategy in deciding who has a dot and who does not have a dot.Slide5
Discussion Questions
How did you decide who had (or didn’t have) a “dot?” Were you correct?
Did you lie during the game?
Reflect on your thoughts and/or feelings during the time you were forming groups.
What is the connection between this activity and the Cold War unit?Slide6
How did fear of domestic communism affect American society during the Cold War?Slide7
How should we balance Collective Security with Individual Rights (Civil Liberties)?Slide8
The Red Scare: Hysteria
In the 1950s, communism was not an imagined enemy, it had concrete shape in the form of the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin
Many hindrances were encountered in America’s fight against communism
The Korean deadlock
The defeat of China
The development of the Atomic bomb by the Soviets
People were searching for somebody to blame and many were drawn to the suggestion of a communist conspiracy among the American nationSlide9
The Red Scare: Hysteria Continued
State and local governments, the judiciary, schools and universities, labor unions – all sought to rid themselves of real or imagined subversives
Not only was the fear of communism in the air, but also the fear of being suspected of ties with communistsSlide10
Anti-Communist Efforts
1940 Smith Act focused on Communists
Truman’s 1947 Executive Order 9835 (Federal Employee Loyalty Program
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings
Hollywood TenSlide11
Senator Joseph McCarthy
Critics suggest McCarthy was desperate for a winning issue on which to run in 1952Slide12
McCarthyism
Characterized by uncontrollable and unproven accusations, as well as public attacks on the character or patriotism of political opponents
No one was able to bash McCarthy without the risk of being called a communist spy or sympathizer
Even President Eisenhower remained silentSlide13
McCarthy HearingsSlide14
“I have a list of 205…
…I mean 81
…or, uh 57
known communists in the State Department” Slide15
American Subversives Everywhere!
Alger Hiss
Klaus Fuchs
Ethel and Julius RosenbergSlide16
McCarthy’s Downfall
1954: McCarthy accuses US Army of harboring spies
Army accuses McCarthy of trying to protect an assistant from the draft
Hearing is televised
McCarthy looks like a rude bully
Loses public favor
"Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" - Joseph Welch, lead counsel for US Army
Slide17
McCarthy’s Downfall Continued
No longer was McCarthy invincible or an asset
Senate votes 67-22 to censure (condemn) McCarty for contemptuous behavior
McCarthy dies in 1957, a broke alcoholic, but his legacy survives…Slide18
In what ways does this political cartoon represent McCarthyism? Be specificSlide19
In what ways does this political cartoon represent McCarthyism? Be specificSlide20Slide21
Reflection
Do you think McCarthy’s tactics are effective in today’s society?
Explain your reasoning