Fears of Communism in the USA

Question 1

What had happened in Britain, Canada and the USA that scared Americans?

Answer 1

There was a series of spy scandals. A British physicist, Klaus Fuchs, was convicted of giving nuclear secrets to the USSR.

Question 2

What happened to the scientists Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?

Answer 2

They were executed for giving away atomic secrets.

Question 3

What did the Soviets claim about their influence on US government?

Answer 3

There was no doubt that the Communists had infiltrated many branches of US government during the war; the Soviets later claimed that they had 221 operatives spying in the various branches of government.

Question 4

How did Truman fuel this tension and fear?

Answer 4

In 1947, President Truman introduced the Loyalty Review Board to check up on government employees.

Question 5

What were the results of the Loyalty Review Board?

Answer 5

Any found to be sympathetic to ‘subversive organisations’ could be fired. Within 4 years at least 1,200 had been dismissed and a further 6,000 resigned.

Question 6

What happened to the leaders of the Communist Party?

Answer 6

11 leaders were prosecuted under the 1940 Smith Act and sentenced to up to 5 years in prison.
It was argued that their beliefs suggested they would try to overthrow the government in the USA; they had not actually done anything.