American Political System, The Red Scare And McCarthyism

Question 1

Constitution

Answer 1

A set of basic laws and principles that a country or organization is governed by.

Question 2

Congress

Answer 2

The body of people elected to make laws in America.

Question 3

Amendments

Answer 3

Changes to a bill or a constitution.

Question 4

The number of amendments made to the US constitution.

Answer 4

27

Question 5

Proportion required to ratify an amendment to the US

constitution through Congress.

Answer 5

2/3

Question 6

Communist

Answer 6

A supporter of communism, a political system where the government control everything from food production to property.

Question 7

Capitalist

Answer 7

Someone who supports capitalism, an economic and political system in which businesses belong mostly to private owners.

Question 8

Number of Soviet soldiers and civilians killed during WWII.

Answer 8

25 million

Question 9

The motivation for the Soviets to have major influence in Eastern European nations following the end of the Second World War.

Answer 9

The creation of communist satellite states meant that there was a buffer zone in case of future attack on the Soviets from the west.

Question 10

Effect of satellite states for the Western powers.

Answer 10

They were scared that the Soviets were trying to take over all the European countries.

Question 11

The Truman Doctrine

Answer 11

The policy promised US support for any country at risk of a communist takeover and that wished to resist communism.

Question 12

The Marshall Plan

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

The Berlin Airlift

Answer 13

A mission between July 1948 and May 1949 where Allied Troops flew in supplies after West Berlin was blocked off by the Soviets.

Question 14

Chinese Communist Takeover

Answer 14

1949

Question 15

Effect of successful Soviet atomic bomb test.

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Director of the FBI during the Red Scare.

Answer 16

J. Edgar Hoover

Question 17

Federal Loyalty Boards

Answer 17

An organization which investigated the possibility of Soviet links in government employees.

Question 18

Number of government employees forced to resign or were fired due to alleged security risks by the FLB between 1947 and 1951.

Answer 18

3,000

Question 19

The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)

Answer 19

The body of Congressmen set up the US government to monitor extremists groups suspected of Un-American activities.

Question 20

Hoover’s role in HUAC hearings.

Answer 20

Hoover told the FBI to pass on information they had gathered to HUAC so they can use it against the people at hearings.

Question 21

The number of Hollywood writes, directors and producers who refused to cooperate with HUAC hearings.

Answer 21

10

Question 22

What happened to the ‘Hollywood Ten’?

Answer 22

They were banned from working in the film industry.

Question 23

The First Amendment to the US constitution.

Answer 23

The right of everyone to their own views and to freedom of speech.

Question 24

Impact of HUAC was investigation of Hollywood Ten.

Answer 24

1) Filmmakers shifted their films to be more anti-communism.

2) Public hysteria of anti-communist fear grew and grew.

Question 25

Algar Hiss

Answer 25

An advisor to previous president Roosevelt and suspected communist in a 1948 HUAC hearing.

Question 26

Impact of Algar Hiss

Answer 26

Despite not found guilty, it gave the idea of communist spies being everywhere to the US public, once again increasing the fear of communism.

Question 27

Rosenberg Case (1951)

Answer 27

Despite denying, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were found guilty of spying and sentenced to death. The evidence was very weak.

Question 28

The McCarran Act

Answer 28

A law meaning communists could not hold US passports and work in certain jobs.

Question 29

Joseph McCarthy

Answer 29

Republican senator for Wisconsin.

Question 30

An impact of Televised Hearings ran by McCarthy.

Answer 30

People saw his mean tactics in getting people to talk and he lost support.

Question 31

Impact of McCarthyism on the US.

Answer 31

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.