The Second Red Scare Flashcards
What was the basis for the second red scare?
The Soviet Union had been spying on the US in an attempt to gain an atomic bomb. Furthermore, pro Soviet Governments had been set up across Eastern Europe.
What happened in July 1948?
On the 31st of July 1948 Elizabeth Bentley told HUAC that she had been part of a Moscow led spy ring and named other members of it.
A few days later Whittaker Chambers told HUAC of more people that had been involved.
How did the trails of Alger Hiss go?
He had been in the past an advisor to Roosevelt and two trials were held one in 1949 and one in 1950. In the first trial the jury could not agree and in the second trial the jury ruled guilty.
How did the Trails of the Rosenburgs go?
They were put on trial in 1951 and both were found guilty despite conflicting evidence.
Why did the fall of China in 1949 cause some controversy?
Many believed that Truman couldn’t have done anything to intervene in China however, the China Lobby argued that he hadn’t given enough aid to Chiang Kai Shek. Truman’s advisors had advised him not to provide aid as Chiang was corrupt and then believed that the rebels wanted change not world wide communism.
What made the situation regarding China worse for Truman?
The Chinese Government had intervened directly in North Korea and as a result created stalemate in the Korean War.
When was HUAC founded and what did it do?
It was established in 1938 and stands for House Un American Commission. It investigated predominantly suspected communists, the FBI carried out investigations and often people lost their jobs due to suspicion.
What famous HUAC case took place involving actors in 1947?
Ten actors, script writers and other workers in Hollywood took a stand against HUAC, they refused to answer their questions and were subsequently blacklisted and seen as suspect, other actors then marched in support many of whom also ended up being blacklisted.
What did Truman set up in March 1947?
He set up loyalty boards which investigated the loyalty of government officials. Every employee or applicant went through a series of checks by the FBI, if they found reasonable grounds for them being disloyal they were sacked or investigated further.
How did Joseph McCarthy rise to National prominence?
In February 1950 he made an anti communist speech to a Republican women’s group in which he claimed that he had the names of 200 suspected communists, when pressed further he claimed he had 57. He then said 81 in the senate.
How did McCarthy carry out investigations on suspected communists?
He relied upon highly televised methods and often gave speeches and interviews which got the public involved in the process.
What did McCarthyism lead to instances of across the US?
It led to groups of vigilante ‘red baiters’ patrolling towns and cities and hounding people at home and work by accusing them of being communists.
What did the Tydings Committee say about McCarthy in July 1950?
They stated that his accusations were a muddle of half truths and lies and produced a majority verdict on it which the Republicans refused to sign?
Why did the Second Red Scare die down?
McCarthy remained powerful until 1953 when he started to investigate the army which 20 million people watched on TV, he was seen as unreasonable and unfair on interviewees which led to the senate passing a vote of censure against him.
Give examples of Anti Communism continuing to effect US society even after the Second Red Scare ended?
By the end of the 1950’s a third of librarians had removed any form of communist works from their libraries.
When Nikita Krushchev visited in 1959 he faced huge protests with signs saying things such as the only good communist is a dead communist.
