The Widening of the Cold War, 1949-1955: Increasing Cold War Tensions - McCarthyism in the USA and its Influence in Britain and Europe Flashcards
What was the House of Un-American
Activities Committee?
• HUAC was founded in 1938 and became
permanent from 1945
- Special committee of US gov. that investigated communist infiltration
Who was Alger Hiss?
• American gov. official who was a prominent member of Roosevelt’s pre-war and wartime governments
Describe the Alger Hiss affair
• In 1948, he was accused by a communist journalist, Whittaker Chambers, of being a member of the Communist Party
• In January 1950, Hiss was convicted of perjury as he was accused of lying about passing info to the USSR during 1937-38
• Validity of this accusation is still widely debated
How did the Alger Hiss affair impact people’s views of Truman and the Democrats?
• People criticised Truman for being too ‘soft’ on communism
• Accused for the ‘loss’ of China
• McCarthy shared these views
• Dean G. Acheson publicly offered support to Hiss after being convicted
• Made more people convinced the gov. were tainted with communism
What was the ‘Hollywood 10’ affair?
• In 1947, Republicans led HUAC and investigated a supposed Hollywood-centred communist plot to overthrow the gov.
• The ‘Hollywood 10’ was a group of writers/directors who were currently or previously part of the American Communist Party
e.g Charlie Chaplin
• They were convicted of contempt and given one-year jail
sentences
• Contempt - insult to, interference with, or violation of a sovereign court or legislative body
What was the McCarran or Internal Security
Act?
• Introduced in 1950
• Said members of Communist-affiliated organisations had to register with fed. gov.
• Failure to do so would result in jail or fines
• Those registered could be denied passports or deported
Who was Joseph McCarthy?
• 1908-57
• Republican senator for Wisconsin
• Exploited and drove anti-communist anxieties at the time
Describe the investigations done during the
McCarthy hysteria
• In 1952, McCarthy led congressional committees investigating communists within the USA
• By 1953, these investigations covered the media, the entertainment industry, colleges and universities
• Hundreds of state and local gov. employees, teachers and college professors lost their jobs
Describe the views of FBI head, J. Edgar
Hoover in regards to communism
• Significant figure during Red Scare
• Hoover was determined to investigate communists
• Hoover referred to teachers as ‘Reducators’
• Hoover claimed that communists undermined America’s traditions and customs and questioned the correctness of the American way of life
What did Truman think of the Red Scare and
Hoover?
• Democrat Clark Clifford recalled Truman though it was a load of baloney. But political pressures were such that he had to recognise it.’
• Privately, Truman compared Hoover and the FBI to the Gestapo
Describe the Rosenburgs affair
• Convicted in April 1951 for passing American nuclear secrets to
USSR
• Executed in June 1953
How did McCarthy fall from grace?
• In 1954, McCarthy claimed that the ‘Reds’ had infiltrated the US
Army
• Army-McCarthy hearings were held from April to June 1954 to investigate these claims
• A legal defence by army counsel Joseph N. Welch destroyed
McCarthy
• He said, ‘Senator… you have done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last have you left no sense of decency?’
• In March 1955, the Senate censured McCarthy
• Censure - formal expression of severe disapproval
Describe how McCarthyism changed US policy in Asia and Europe
• Emphasised need for shift in US policy from Eurocentric focus to an ‘Asia first’ viewpoint
• Containment consolidated West’s position in Europe, but Asia was much less secure
• Claimed Truman failed to recognise threat of communism in Asia
What events did McCarthy use to justify his
‘Asia first’ policies?
• China becoming communist in 1949
• Alliance between USSR and China
• Truman’s reluctance to support Jiang Jieshi during Chinese Civil War
• Claimed Korean war wouldn’t have happened if Truman supported Chinese nationalists
Describe the influence McCarthyism and the globalisation of the
Cold War had on Britain
•Britain concerned with the USA’s more aggressive Cold War thinking
•Concerned US’ aggressive response to Korean War might lead to
USSR destabilising Europe, while UN focused on Asia
• ‘Asia first’ dangerous idea
• Korean War threatened territorial stability NATO sought out for
•Britain wanted to remain a close ally to USA
• So made significant military contribution in Korea despite continuing austerity
