American Political System, The Red Scare And McCarthyism Flashcards
Constitution
A set of basic laws and principles that a country or organization is governed by.
Congress
The body of people elected to make laws in America.
Amendments
Changes to a bill or a constitution.
The number of amendments made to the US constitution.
27
Proportion required to ratify an amendment to the US
constitution through Congress.
2/3
Communist
A supporter of communism, a political system where the government control everything from food production to property.
Capitalist
Someone who supports capitalism, an economic and political system in which businesses belong mostly to private owners.
Number of Soviet soldiers and civilians killed during WWII.
25 million
The motivation for the Soviets to have major influence in Eastern European nations following the end of the Second World War.
The creation of communist satellite states meant that there was a buffer zone in case of future attack on the Soviets from the west.
Effect of satellite states for the Western powers.
They were scared that the Soviets were trying to take over all the European countries.
The Truman Doctrine
The policy promised US support for any country at risk of a communist takeover and that wished to resist communism.
The Marshall Plan
The policy which gave over 12 million dollars to European countries suffering from financial problems post-war as the US believed that poverty will lead to communist leanings.
The Berlin Airlift
A mission between July 1948 and May 1949 where Allied Troops flew in supplies after West Berlin was blocked off by the Soviets.
Chinese Communist Takeover
1949
Effect of successful Soviet atomic bomb test.
1) The US were afraid that there own scientists had helped the Soviets create the atomic bomb.
2) Their biggest enemy had a bomb that could destroy their country.
Director of the FBI during the Red Scare.
J. Edgar Hoover
Federal Loyalty Boards
An organization which investigated the possibility of Soviet links in government employees.
Number of government employees forced to resign or were fired due to alleged security risks by the FLB between 1947 and 1951.
3,000
The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)
The body of Congressmen set up the US government to monitor extremists groups suspected of Un-American activities.
Hoover’s role in HUAC hearings.
Hoover told the FBI to pass on information they had gathered to HUAC so they can use it against the people at hearings.
The number of Hollywood writes, directors and producers who refused to cooperate with HUAC hearings.
10
What happened to the ‘Hollywood Ten’?
They were banned from working in the film industry.
The First Amendment to the US constitution.
The right of everyone to their own views and to freedom of speech.
Impact of HUAC was investigation of Hollywood Ten.
1) Filmmakers shifted their films to be more anti-communism.
2) Public hysteria of anti-communist fear grew and grew.
Algar Hiss
An advisor to previous president Roosevelt and suspected communist in a 1948 HUAC hearing.
Impact of Algar Hiss
Despite not found guilty, it gave the idea of communist spies being everywhere to the US public, once again increasing the fear of communism.
Rosenberg Case (1951)
Despite denying, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were found guilty of spying and sentenced to death. The evidence was very weak.
The McCarran Act
A law meaning communists could not hold US passports and work in certain jobs.
Joseph McCarthy
Republican senator for Wisconsin.
An impact of Televised Hearings ran by McCarthy.
People saw his mean tactics in getting people to talk and he lost support.
Impact of McCarthyism on the US.
1) Thousands of people lost their jobs due to allegations made by McCarthy during these hearings.
2) Many Americans were drawn into this hunting of communists as it filled the newspaper and TV.
