The Widening Of The Cold War (3) Flashcards
Why were tensions increasing in the USA up to 1953?
- Communism spread through E.Europe (by 1948)
- USSR successful test of atomic bomb (1949)
- Fall of China to communism (1949)
- Sino-Soviet Pact (1950)
- Korean War (1950-3)
Who was a key US figure in accelerating the Red Scare?
Joseph McCarthy
What was the Red Scare? When was it?
Fear of spread of communism within the USA (internal subversion)
- Peaked 1947-1957 in USA
Who was Joseph McCarthy?
Republican senator from Wisconsin
- Became increasingly worried about his 1952 reelection
- Started to whip up anti-communist sentiment (enhance the Red Scare) + present himself as an aggressive anti-communist in hope to win favour of the people
Briefly outline the rise of Joseph McCarthy into public influence
- Started anti-communist strong outlook
- Feb 1950: Famous Lincoln Day Speech (West Virginia) claiming there were 205 communists working in the State Department
- Subcommittee led by Senator Tydings investigated his claims, denounced him + had a hearing for McCarthy (in which McCarthy tried to recover by naming Lattimore as ‘biggest Soviet spy’)
- Given more power (chair of ‘Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations’ for investigating communist activity) when Eisenhower elected
What were McCarthy’s main claims?
- There was a global communist plot that threatened USA
- US State Dep had been heavily infiltrated by communists
- US film industry had been heavily infiltrated by communists
- US army had been infiltrated by communists
- Truman’s Democratic administration too ‘soft’ on communism
What was McCarthy’s extreme anti-communist pursuit known as?
McCarthy’s Witch Hunt
What was McCarthyism?
Making (unsupported) accusations about subversion or treason, particularly related to communism, that increase public fear
Who was Lattimore?
US advisor accused by McCarthy of being the ‘biggest Soviet spy’
What happened to the Red Scare in the US after mid-late 1950s?
- Became less prominent
- Still negativity towards communists but less irrational fear that communists were infiltrating everywhere
Briefly outline the fall of Joseph McCarthy from public influence
- His ‘Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations’ went too far, becoming too aggressive + condemning everyone
- Influential people began to condemn his actions
- Fall from power catalysed in 1954: Claimed ‘Reds’ had infiltrated the US army, accusing 45 officers in front of 20 mill Americans watching on TV
- He had lost public support
- Senate condemned him for improper conduct + voted on censure (67 to 22)
- Died of alcoholism in 1957
Who was somebody who publicly disliked McCarthy?
Murrow (TV broadcaster)
- Episode of ‘See it Now’ (March 1954)
- Exposed McCarthy’s unjustified methods
Who was somebody who publicly liked McCarthy?
Hoover (Head of FBI)
- Said people were questioning US way of life
- Particularly blamed teachers (‘reducators’)
What are two case studies that can be used to exemplify the Red Scare?
- The Alger Hiss Case (1948)
- The Rosenberg Case (1950)
What was Red Baiting? Give an example
Labelling somebody as ‘communist’ to damage reputation
- E.g. Nixon got campaigners to randomly ring members of public to say his opponent Voorhis was a communist (Nixon won)
- E.g. Lots of left-wing politicians (such as those who supported the New Deal) were labelled communist
What were some domestic actions taken by the US gov during the Red Scare in attempt to reduce internal communism?
- Smith Act (1940)
- The House of Un-American Activities Committee (1938, perm 1945)
- ‘Loyalty Order’ (1947)
- ‘McCarran Act’ (1950)
What was the Smith Act + how did it attempt to reduce internal communism in the USA?
Smith Act (1940)
- Outlawed joining an organisation advocating overthrowing the US gov (with particular focus on Communist Parties)
- Took fingerprints of all ‘aliens’ (communists) over 14
- Produced booklets in 1948 to help identify + deal with communists
- Approx 5 mill aliens registered in first 4 months
- 12 key Communist Party members tried + convicted
What was the House of Un-American Activities Committee + how did it attempt to reduce internal communism in the USA?
House of Un-American Activities Committee
(Started 1938. Permanent fixture from 1945)
- Investigated subversion in US (originally by Nazis, then communists)
- Used large scale in the Hollywood Film Industry - thought to be spreading communist propaganda in films (E.g. Charlie Chaplin)
What was the ‘Loyalty Order’ + how did it attempt to reduce internal communism in the USA?
‘Loyalty Order’ (1947)
- Investigated gov employees + dismissed those ‘disloyal’ to US
- Loyalty Review Boards did investigating (approx 3.2 mill gov employees investigated - 212 dismissed, 3000 resigned to escape investigation)
- Attorney General’s List (1947) published 91 suspected subversive organisations
What was the ‘McCarran Act’ + how did it attempt to reduce internal communism in the USA?
‘McCarran Act’ (1950)
- Outlawed planning any action that may lead to establishment of a totalitarian dictatorship in the USA
- All communists/communist organisations registers + fingerprinted
- Communist rights restricted: no US passport, can’t work for US defence
Why did Truman veto the McCarran Act? Did it get passed anyway?
- Thought it made a mockery of the Bill of Rights (restricted communists’ rights
- Got passed anyway (Congress overruled)
Briefly outline the Alger Hiss case
Alger Hiss case (1948)
- Alger Hiss = respected, key member of Roosevelt’s pre-war gov
- Convicted (by Whittaker Chambers - FBI communist finding agent + former communist) of being a communist + Soviet spy
- ‘The Pumpkin Papers’ (microfilm of gov docs that Chambers said Hiss gave to him to pass to Soviets) incriminated Hiss
- Hiss charged of perjury (lying under oath) in 1950 - too late for spy
- Maintained innocence
- Soviet cables released in 1990 prove WAS communist + spy
Briefly outline the Rosenberg case
Rosenberg case (1950)
- Rosenberg couple executed in 1953 after convicted of organising a spy ring of people to pass info to Soviets
- Found as a member of the ring Mr Greenglass was part of Klaus Fuch’s confession
- Klaus Fuchs was a German born physicist who admitted to passing info to Soviets during the Manhattan Project (helped Soviets develop atomic bomb faster)
What do the Alger Hiss + Rosenberg cases show?
There was some validity to the Red Scare
