Alger Hiss Case, 1948 to 1950 Flashcards
Who was Alger Hiss?
Alger Hiss was an ex-adviser to President Roosevelt who was accused of being a communist spy during the Second Red Scare.
When was Alger Hiss put on trial?
Alger Hiss was accused in 1948. His first trial was in August 1949 and his second trial was in January 1950.
Who snitched on Alger Hiss and what happened at his first trial?
Whittaker Chambers, an ex-member of the Communist Party, claimed in a HUAC hearing that Alger Hiss was a communist who was spying when he worked for President Roosevelt and passed on government documents.
Hiss appeared before HUAC and was put on trial. However, the trial ended in a hung jury.
What happened during the second trial of Alger Hiss?
At the second trial in 1950, Hiss was found guilty of perjury - lying to the court. He was charged for lying about giving government documents to Chambers, he couldn’t be charged for espionage due to the Double Jeopardy clause in the 5th Ammendment.
What punishment did Alger Hiss receive?
Alger Hiss was sentenced to 5 years in prison for perjury.
What happened during the trial of Alger Hiss that affected the case?
During his case the USSR tested its first atomic bomb. This resulted in a heightened fear the Soviets had gained nuclear secrets by spying in America, and that Soviet spies occupied powerful positions in the USA.
Due to the results of the Alger Hiss case, which act did it factor into making?
The government passed the McCarran Act in 1950. This meant Communist Party members could not hold an American passport or work in the defence industries. Any communist organisations also had to be registered with the government
