The Rosenbergs Case, 1951 Flashcards
When were the Rosenbergs put on trial?
The trial of the Rosenbergs started on 6th March, 1951.
What were the Rosenbergs accused of?
The Rosenbergs were accused of spying for the USSR and passing on nuclear secrets.
What was the evidence against the Rosenbergs?
It came from decoding Soviet telegrams in which the Rosenbergs were not directly named, but code names were used.
Who snitched on the Rosenbergs and why? Why is it controversial?
It was Ethel’s own brother, David Greenglass, who named Julius and Ethel as spies. Initially he only named Julius but later claimed his sister was involved, supposedly to save his own wife.
What events affected the trial of the Rosenbergs?
During the Rosenberg trial, the Korean War had started, increasing Cold War tension. The Second Red Scare was escalating.
How were the Rosenbergs punished?
On 5th April, 1951, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were sentenced to death. They were electrocuted on 19th June, 1953.
What were the consequences of the Rosenbergs sentence?
❖There were protests in support of the Rosenbergs because they had received the death sentence. To some people, it seemed an excessive punishment.
❖The Second Red Scare intensified and created the climate in which Senator McCarthy could accuse many people of being communists.
