political divisions Flashcards
What political problem did Truman face in the mid term 1946 congressional elections
Lost the house of representatives and the senate to the Republicans.
How many seats did the Republicans gain of the 37 being contested at the 1946 midterm congressional elections in the senate to get a majority ?
gained 12 seats
How many seats did the Republicans gain in the 1946 midterm congressional election to win a majority ?
55 seats
What problem did the Republicans having control of the House of representatives and the senate cause for Truman ?
Political gridlock
How an it be said that Truman was not confident when contesting the 1948 election as the democrats’ nominee ?
He invited Eisenhower to be on the ticket for the 1948 election as the democrats’ nominee.
What were dixiecrats ?
Southern democrats who left the democrat party as a result of their segregationist agenda.
What party was formed by Dixiecrats ?
the States rights party
Which Dixiecrat Ran for the States rights party in the 1948 election ?
Strom Thurmond
Other than the states rights party & the Republican party which other party did truman face opposition from in the 1948 election ?
the Progressive party
Which former democrat was on the Progressive party ticket at the 1948 election ?
Henry Wallace
Who ran as the Republican candidate for President at the 1948 election ?
Thomas E. Dewey
Which 3 ‘main’ parties contested the 1948 election (not including Truman) ?
Progressive party - Henry Wallace
States Rights party - Strom Thurmond
Republican party - Thomas E. Dewey
How many electoral college votes did Truman receive at the 1948 election ?
303
How many electoral college votes did Thomas E. Dewey receive at the 1948 election ?
189
How many electoral college votes did Strom Thurmond receive at the 1948 election ?
39
How much of the popular vote did the Progressive party led by Henry Wallace receive at the 1948 election ?
1.2 million
Who won the 1948 election ?
Truman
Which US newspaper had on its front page “Dewey defeats Truman” ?
the Chicago Daily Tribune (incorrect, Truman won)
In the midterm 1950 congressional elections, how many seats did the Democrats lose in the House of representatives ?
29
In the mid term 1950 congressional elections, how many seats did the Democrats lose in the senate ?
6
What is the HUAC ?
The house of Un-American activities committee
When was the HUAC set up ?
1938
What was the HUAC’s job/ purpose ?
to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activity of private citizen’s and anyone suspected of having communist ties.
What is one famous example of the HUAC investigating communism in an organisation/ business (not Holywood 10).
Walt Disney famously testified in front of the committee arguing that communists were trying to take over his company.
Which Doctrine did Truman introduce that ultimately contributed to the growth of the 2nd red scare ?
Truman Doctrine (12th March 1947)
in 1947, What industry did the HUAC begin to investigate into around communist infiltration ?
the film industry
What was the fear around what kind of message the film industry was spreading ?
That films were being used to get across a communist message
Give a brief rundown of what was known as “Hollywood 10” in 1947. (6)
1) 10 writers & directors had to testify before the HUAC
2) They were asked if they had been members of the Communist party
3) pledged the 5th amendment (right to remain silent)
4) found to be in contempt of Congress
5) Hollywood 10 were sacked and sent to prison
6) Blacklisted
Give a brief rundown of what happened to Alger Hiss in 1948. (6)
1) 1948 - Whittaker Chambers informed the leading member of the HUAC, Richard Nixon that Alger Hiss. a high ranking member of the US state department was a spy.
2) Hiss was interrogated and discredited by Nixon
3) however little evidence to suggest he was a spy
4) 1 year later, Chamber showed Nixon government documents that had been copied from Hiss’s typewriter, incriminating him.
5) Hiss was tried for perjury
6) sentenced to 5 years in jail
Which country turned communist in 1949 contributing to the growth of the 2nd red scare ?
China
When did McCarthy begin his claims ?
Feb 1950
What did Senator Joseph McCarthy claim in Feb 1950 ?
That he had a list of 205 names of communists working in the state department in the US government.
What was McCarthyism ?
The witch hunt for suspected communists in the early 1950s that divided society.
What did the McCarren internal security act do ?
Required communist organisations to register with federal government.
How did the McCarren internal security act passing highlight Truman’s lack of political power in 1950 ?
This is because it became law, despite being vetoed by Truman
What event in the USSR led many in America to believe that there were US spies passing nuclear secrets to the Soviets ?
1949 - USSR dropped its first atomic bomb (much sooner than expected)
Due to the belief circulating at the time of 1949 that there were US spies passing nuclear secrets to the Soviets, give 2 people who were arrested.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
What were Julius & Ethel Rosenberg arrested for ?
on suspicion of spying and later charged for conspiring to commit espionage (spying)
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were former members of the ____________ _______, but by 1949 had no links.
communist party
When were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed ?
1953
Which two professions did the 2nd red scare affect the most ?
writers and entertainers
Give an example of an example of a writer/ entertainer who was affected by the second red scare.
Arthur Miller - American playwright and essayist
How was Arthur Miller affected by the 2nd red scare ?
Miller was blacklisted by the federal government as he was convicted for contempt of court for defying McCarthyism.
What was red baiting ?
The practice of identifying and attempting to out or uncover suspected communists within the US government.
When were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg put on trial ?
1951
