How did the Red Scare and McCarthyism affect the political environment in the United States and lead to a decrease in personal liberties during the 1940’s through the 1960’s?
Climate of the Cold War
After World War II ended in 1945, the democracy of the United States and the communist Soviet Union became involved in a chain of hostile political and economic confrontations up until the early 1990’s that became known as the Cold War. The animosity between the Soviet Union and the United States became stronger in the late 1940’s and into early 1950’s. In the US, hysteria swept the country as people became paranoid of the perceived threat of the communists. This became known as the Red Scare. During this time, federal employees were questioned to determine their loyalty to the government. In addition, the House Un American Activities Committee headed by senator Joseph McCarthy investigated accusations of communist sympathizers in the government, army, and Hollywood. In addition, American public concerns about the USSR and communism were increased due to various international events including the Soviet Union's successful tests of a nuclear bomb in 1952, the communist takeover China, and the Korean War. These technological and military advancements of communism around the world confirmed for many Americans that communism was a real threat to their country.
Political and government figures such as Joseph McCarthy and Edgar Hoover took advantage of this fear by highly exaggerating such possibilities.
Important FiguresJoseph McCarthy
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J Edgar Hoover J Edgar Hoover was the long time FBI director who also played an important role in many of the legislative investigations into communist activities in the United States. Hoover was important player in the red scare and the anti communist crusade during which the FBI gathered information by using sometimes questionable tactics such as wiretaps, surveillance, infiltration of left wing groups. |
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Major Events |
House Committee on Un American ActivitesIn 1938, the House of Representatives created the House Committee on Un American Activities (HUAC). The aim of the HUAC was to investigate and expose the communists working inside the federal government. The committee gained a newfound momentum as World War II ended and the Cold War began. During the height of the program, between 1947 and 1956, more than five million federal employees were subject to loyalty screenings. This program resulted in roughly 2700 dismissals and 12000 resignations. In 1947, the HUAC began to investigate Hollywood and accused a long list of people in the film industry.
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Dennis Vs The United StatesDennis vs the United States was a US Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of the Smith Act. The Smith Act was passed in 1940 and made it “ a criminal offence to advocate the violent overthrow of the government or to organize or be a member of any group or society devoted to such advocacy.” In 1948, General Secretary of the American Communist Party Eugene Dennis was arrested and found guilty of having violated the Smith Act. In June of 1950, the Supreme Court announced a 6-2 ruling that upheld his previous sentence. In doing so, the court restricted the right of free speech promised in the US Constitution’s first amendment when such speech was deemed so dangerous that it presented a basic threat to the security of the country.
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