Mccarthyism Flashcards
Internal fear
1948 huac investigated 6 million people. Hollywood 10. Witch hunts, government departments were investigated and many lost jobs. Rosenberg arrest.
What was the external fear caused by
Berlin blockade and expansion of Soviet Union. Warsaw Pact and reds are in 1949. Communism spreading to china and Korea in 1950. Russia developing atomic bomb.
Methods
Exploits fear and paranoia of red scare. Has a list of people who are communists- and he can change this whenever he wants. Public hearing- senate sub committee, televised and accused of being traitors. Showed how easy it was to create fear from the threat of communism. McCarran act- communists not allowed to work in weapons factories, detained if war broke out.
Why he was supported
Dangerous to challenge. Seen as patriotic. American feeling was anti communism. Media exaggerated threat of communism. Had the support of the head of the FBI Hoover
Decline
Power crazy and started attacking the army, bullying tactics- public did not like that he attacked war heroes. End of the Korean War- less of a threat. Politicians began to dislike his because he was trying to gain to much power.
