Case Study: The Red Scare

In this study students will:

Investigate the depictions of Communism in US media

Engage in historiographic study of primary artifacts

Analyze various forms of media from the era

Evaluate US strategies to combat the spread of

Communism

DUE: 4/16/2015

Introduction: The Cold War and the “Red Scare”

Soon after the defeat of Nazi Germany the world saw a new challenge

grow; the ideological dispute between the democratic and capitalistic

west and the communist Union of Soviet Socialist States (USSR aka The

Soviet Union). The United States felt threatened by the ever expanding

Soviets. To defeat Hitler the USSR built an army of over 12 million soldiers

and they had successfully reconquered and occupied the Eastern

European territories that the once great Russian Empire had lost. The

worry was that the USSR had designs on the west and dreamt of a

Communist Europe and, after that, a Communist world.

The United States flexed its might at the end of World War II with its use

of the atomic bomb against Japan. Immediately after World War II the

United States was the only country in the world known to have

successfully built, tested, and used an atomic weapon. In September of

1949 however, the United States and the other countries of the

democratic west shuddered when the Soviet Union released footage of

their own successful nuclear bomb test. One month later Mao Zedong’s

Communist forces won complete control of the Chinese mainland and

formally ally itself with the Soviet Union.

Communism was indeed spreading, and the West’s fear of a Communist

planet (as well as the Communist fear of destruction at the hands

of the Capitalists) fueled a decades-long conflict known as “The

Cold War.”

During the Cold war anxiety about the Soviet Union consumed the

United States. Movies, books, and television programs portrayed

the Soviet Union as a global menace and the threat of nuclear

extermination was ever present as both countries greatly

expanded their nuclear arsenals. Whatever one wishes to call it:

concern, fear, paranoia, manifested itself in the culture and policies

of the day.

In the space below respond to the following prompt:

Consider the posters above, as well as the evidence from the previous page and the following one. What

emotions do these pieces of propaganda hope to elicit? Put these posters in their historical context, what do

they say about America at the time?

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Part 1: The Rosenbergs

In the summer of 1949, the FBI learned that the secret of the construction of the atom bomb had been stolen and turned over to a foreign power. Through aBritish investigation the United States uncovered the name of the USSR’s American contact, Harry Gold, a Philadelphia chemist. On May 22, 1950, Gold confessed his espionage activity to the FBI. The investigation of Gold’s admissions led to the identification of David Greenglass, a U.S. Army enlisted man and Soviet agent, who had been assigned by the Army to Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1944 and 1945. Gold stated that he had picked up espionage material from Greenglass during June 1945 on instructions of “John,” his Soviet principal. “John” was subsequently identified as Anatoli Yakovlev, former Soviet vice-consul in New York City, who left the United States in December 1946. Interrogation of Greenglass and his wife, Ruth, resulted in admissions of espionage activity under the instructions of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, brother-in -law and sister, respectively, of David Greenglass

Investigations showed that Julius and Ethel became devoted communists between 1932 and 1935, after which they maintained that nothing was more important than the communist cause. Information obtained in March 1944 reflected that Julius Rosenberg was a member of the Communist Party. On June 17, 1950, Julius Rosenberg was arrested on suspicion of espionage after having been named by Sgt. Greenglass for passing secret information to the USSR through a courier, Gold. On August 11, 1950, Ethel was arrested.

The trial against the Rosenbergs began on March 6, 1951. The prosecution's primary witness, David Greenglass, stated that Ethel, provided him with typed notes containing U.S. nuclear secrets, and these were later turned over to Gold, who would then turn them over to Yakovlev in New York City. Both Rosenbergs asserted their right under the Fifth Amendment not to incriminate themselves whenever asked about their involvement in the Communist Party of with its members. Though they vehemently denied the charges of espionage. The Rosenbergs were found guilty of espionage and both were sentenced to death.

1) What were the Rosenbergs charged with and found guilty of?

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2) RESEARCH: What does it mean to “plead the fifth amendment?”

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3) How might the climate of the “red scare,” have influenced their trial?

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4) How might their arrest and the discovery of the dealing of atomic secrets contributed to the “red

scare?”______________________________________________________________________________________

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Part 2: Film Study: The Twilight Zone – “The

Shelter”

One of TV’s greatest, most influential, series was “The Twilight

Zone.” Created by writer, and host, Rod Serling the 30 minute

anthology show mixed metaphor with horror, science-fiction,

and the supernatural. Broadcast at the height of Cold War

tensions Serling and the writers attempted to capture the mood

of the nation.

Assignment: got to Mr. Baker’s page on BPI.edu and

watch the episode “The Shelter,” and answer the

questions below.

"When I get my shelter finished, I'm going to mount a machine gun at the hatch to keep the neighbors

out if the bomb falls. I'm deadly serious about this. If the stupid American public will not do what they

have to to save themselves, I'm not going to run the risk of not being able to use the shelter I've taken

the trouble to provide to save my own family."

-Unknown suburban Chicago resident. Published in Time Magazine Aug. 18, 1961 “Religion: Gun thy

Neighbor?”

5) Briefly summarize the episode

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6) What was the “moral” of the story announced by Serling at the very end of the episode?

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7) What critique of Cold War society is the Twilight Zone making?

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8) Consider the quote in the box above as well as the end of the episode - what did the fear of the Soviet attack

risk doing to American communities?

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Part 3: This Godless Communism – (Go to BPI.edu to read larger versions of the complete comic)

9) How is communism depicted in the pages above? Use details and examples to support your answer.

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In the early 1950’s the United States made two legislative decisions. The

Congress passed, and President Eisenhower signed into law, the addition

of the phrase “In God We Trust” to all paper currency (Public Law 84-

851) and the phrase “Under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance

(Public Law 83-396).

"From this day forward, the millions

of our school children will daily

proclaim in every city and town,

every village and rural school house,

the dedication of our nation and our

people to the Almighty.... In this way

we are reaffirming the

transcendence of religious faith in

America's heritage and future; in this

way we shall constantly strengthen

those spiritual weapons which

forever will be our country's most

powerful resource, in peace or in

war."

-President Eisenhower, on the

passing of Public Law 83-396

10) According to the comic, what is the Soviet Union’s stance on religion?

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11) RESEARCH: Is this accurate or a bit exaggerated?

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12) The United States passed laws affirming the country’s belief in “the almighty.” Given the context of the Cold

War, why would the United States do this?

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13) What does President Eisenhower think will be the impact of these laws on American society?

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Part 4: HUAC

The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities on the part of private citizens, public employees, and those organizations suspected of having Communist ties. In the postwar atmosphere of fear and contempt for the Soviet Union, at which time HUAC's activities commanded broad popular support and consistently attracted major headlines.

Through its power to subpoena witness and hold people in contempt of Congress, HUAC (led by Senator Joseph McCarthy as Chairman) often pressured witnesses to surrender names and other information that could lead to the apprehension of Communists and Communist sympathizers. Committee members often branded witnesses as "red" if they refused to comply or hesitated in answering committee questions. HUAC went after a variety of targets in government, but they famously went after entertainers, actors, directors and writers in Hollywood. Based on the fear that communist agents were using TV and film as a way to infiltrate American culture with Communist propaganda. People found to be communist sympathizers were often “blacklisted,” and were therefore unable to find work in their fields. Many, however stood firm against the questioning.

Below is the transcript of African-American actor and activist Paul Robeson when he was called before HUAC (Chairman McCarthy and other Senators) to answer the claim he had communist sympathies….

Mr. ARENS: Are you now a member of the Communist Party?

Mr. ROBESON: Oh please, please, please.

Mr. SCHERER: Please answer, will you, Mr. Robeson?

Mr. ROBESON: What is the Communist Party? What do you mean by that?

Mr. SCHERER: I ask that you direct the witness to answer the question.

Mr. ROBESON: What do you mean by the Communist Party? As far as I know it is a legal party like the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Do you mean a party of people who have sacrificed for my people, and for all Americans and workers, that they can live in dignity? Do you mean that party?

Mr. ARENS: Are you now a member of the Communist Party?

Mr. ROBESON: Would you like to come to the

ballot box when I vote and take out the ballot and see?

Mr. ARENS: Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that the witness be ordered and directed to answer that question.

THE CHAIRMAN: You are directed to answer the question.

(The witness consulted with his counsel.)

Mr. ROBESON: I stand upon the Fifth Amendment of the American Constitution.

Mr. ARENS: Do you mean you invoke the Fifth Amendment?

Mr. ROBESON: I invoke the Fifth Amendment.

…

Robeson, actor and civil rights activist (left)

Senator McCarthy (right)

Mr. ROBESON: Gentlemen, in the first place,

wherever I have been in the world, Scandinavia,

England, and many places, the first to die in the

struggle against Fascism were the Communists

and I laid many wreaths upon graves of

Communists. It is not criminal, and the Fifth

Amendment has nothing to do with criminality.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren,

has been very clear on that in many speeches,

that the Fifth Amendment does not have anything

to do with the inference of criminality. I invoke

the Fifth Amendment.

Mr. ARENS: Have you ever been known under the

name of “John Thomas”?

Mr. ARENS: I put it to you as a fact, and ask you

to affirm or deny the fact, that your Communist

Party name was “John Thomas.”

Mr. ROBESON: I invoke the Fifth Amendment.

This is really ridiculous….The other reason that I

am here today, again from the State Department

and from the court record of the court of appeals,

is that when I am abroad I speak out against the

injustices against the Negro people of this land. I

sent a message to the Bandung Conference and

so forth. That is why I am here. This is the basis,

and I am not being tried for whether I am a

Communist, I am being tried for fighting for the

rights of my people, who are still second-class

citizens in this United States of America. My

mother was born in your state, Mr. Walter, and

my mother was a Quaker, and my ancestors in

the time of Washington baked bread for George

Washington’s troops when they crossed the

Delaware, and my own father was a slave. I stand

here struggling for the rights of my people to be

full citizens in this country. And they are not.

They are not in Mississippi. And they are not in

Montgomery, Alabama. And they are not in

Washington. They are nowhere, and that is why I

am here today. You want to shut up every Negro

who has the courage to stand up and fight for the

rights of his people, for the rights of workers, and

I have been on many a picket line for the

steelworkers too. And that is why I am here

today. . . .

14) Does the United States have the duty to investigate possible threats to the country, even if it means

investigating its own citizens?

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15) RESEARCH: Is it legal to be a member of the Communist party according to the Bill of Rights?

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16) Why would someone “plead the fifth,” even if they were innocent?

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17) What does Robeson accuse is the real reason he was brought before HUAC?

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18) Why might some Americans, at the time, consider leaders of the Civil Rights movement and Communist

agents one in the same?

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Part 5: Radio Free Europe

Radio Free Europe was founded by the United

States State Department in 1950. Headquartered

in Munich its intention was to broadcast “free”

radio into countries behind the Iron Curtain where

information is limited and news was controlled. In

the early years it was primarily a political tool

broadcasting anti-Communist propaganda into

Communist controlled countries, but the station

soon evolved into something different.

After 1953 the station took on the role of

“surrogate” broadcaster. Radio Free Europe would

be the radio station that the countries behind the

Iron Curtain could not get from the Soviet Union.

RFE programs focused on local news, science,

international relations, religion, sports and

western music. Many western artists were banned

in the Soviet Union but RFE was a way for the

citizens under the control of the Soviet Union to hear, and be influence by the culture of The West.

RFE also became a central voice to artists, and other citizens, who fled Soviet controlled countries to tell their

stories. RFE gave a mass audience to the voice of revolutionaries and political dissidents.

19) What was the stated goal of Radio Free Europe?

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20) How does the broadcast of seemingly everyday things like news, sports, and western music and culture

behind the iron curtain have any impact on the people living under Soviet control?

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21) Some argue that RFE’s lasting legacy is their role as giving a voice to the exiled and the refugees that

escaped Soviet controlled lands. Why giving their voice such a platform sop important in the “battle” for

the minds of people behind the iron curtain?

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Part 6: Eisenhower’s Farwell Address – annotate and use the reading guide to analyze

…We now stand ten years past the midpoint of a century that has witnessed four major wars among

great nations. Three of these involved our own country. Despite these holocausts, America is today

the strongest, the most influential, and most productive nation in the world. Understandably proud of

this pre-eminence, we yet realize that America's leadership and prestige depend, not merely upon our

unmatched material progress, riches, and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of world peace and human betterment.

Throughout America's adventure in free government, our basic purposes have been to keep the

peace, to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity, and integrity among

peoples and among nations. To strive for less would be unworthy of a free and religious people. Any

failure traceable to arrogance, or our lack of comprehension, or readiness to sacrifice would inflict upon us grievous hurt, both at home and abroad…

…Progress toward these noble goals is persistently threatened by the conflict now engulfing the world.

It commands our whole attention, absorbs our very beings. We face a hostile ideology global in scope,

atheistic in character, ruthless in purpose, and [insidious] in method. Unhappily, the danger it poses

promises to be of indefinite duration. To meet it successfully, there is called for, not so much the

emotional and transitory sacrifices of crisis, but rather those which enable us to carry forward

steadily, surely, and without complaint the burdens of a prolonged and complex struggle with liberty

the stake. Only thus shall we remain, despite every provocation, on our charted course toward permanent peace and human betterment.

But each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the need to maintain

balance in and among national programs, balance between the private and the public economy,

balance between the cost and hoped for advantages, balance between the clearly necessary and the

comfortably desirable, balance between our essential requirements as a nation and the duties

imposed by the nation upon the individual, balance between actions of the moment and the national welfare of the future…

…We have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to

this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We

annually spend on military security alone more than the net income of all United States cooperations -- corporations…

…In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence,

whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise

of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger

our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and

knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery

of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together…

…It is the task of statesmanship to mold, to balance, and to integrate these and other forces, new and

old, within the principles of our democratic system -- ever aiming toward the supreme goals of our free society.

Another factor in maintaining balance involves the element of time. As we peer into society's future,

we -- you and I, and our government -- must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering for

our own ease and convenience the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material

assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We

want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow…

Eisenhower’s Farewell Address – Guided Notes Summarize the message of each paragraph in the boxes below. To the right, list any key-terms and phrases you feel are important

First Paragraph

Paragraphs two and three

Paragraphs four and five

Closing paragraphs

Key Terms

Key Terms

Key Terms

Key Terms

Part II, Summarizing

What is the overall message of Eisenhower’s address?

What is the Military Industrial Complex?

How does President Eisenhower describe the Soviet Union and Communism?

What warning is he giving to the country?

Case Study: The Red Scare

The United States and the Soviet Union were locked in an ideological battle known as the Cold War. The threat of nuclear annihilation hung in the air and the overwhelming fear that came with it manifested itself in both policy and popular culture. Yes the Soviet Union WAS trying to spread Communism around the globe, and yes the United States WAS trying to undermine the Soviet Union. As the 1950’s came to a close President Eisenhower left the United States with a warning: Assignment: Answer the following prompt in a formal five paragraph essay –

During the Cold War many in the US saw Communists as the ultimate enemy and source of fear in the culture. Consider the list to the right, are they the “new communists” in modern America today? What was President Eisenhower’s warning to American culture as he left office? Should modern America abide by that warning today? Your Essay should include:

-An introductory paragraph with a clear thesis statement that identifies who you feel are the “new communists” in American culture today.

-TWO body paragraphs that compare one aspect of the red scare and a analytical comparison to the way modern American culture depicts the “new communists”

-A paragraph that outlines what President Eisenhower’s warning to America was at the close of his Presidency, and analysis stating if that warning is still valid today.

-A closing paragraph that effectively summarizes your thoughts on the prompt and modern American culture. -All essays should be typed, double-spaced, be properly cited in MLA format and include a works cited page in proper MLA format

ESSAY AND CASE STUDY DUE DATE: 4/16

o International terrorists

o Immigrants

o Teen African American

Boys

o LGBT persons

o 0ther: ____________