Chapter Intro 3

The Cold War and American Society

How did the Cold War change Americans’ lives?

Section 3-Main Idea

Big Ideas

Struggles for Rights In the early part of the Cold War, the fear of communism led to a hunt for spies and to intolerance and suspicion of people with radical ideas in the United States.

Section 3

A New Scare

Public accusations and trials followed in the wake of fears of communism and spies.

Section 3

• The Red Scare began in September 1945 when Igor Gouzenko revealed a massive effort by the Soviet Union to infiltrate organizations and government agencies in Canada and the United States, with the goal of obtaining information about the atomic bomb.

• However, the search for spies escalated into a general fear of Communist subversion.

A New Scare (cont.)

Section 3

• The FBI arrested Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and Ethel Rosenberg and charged them with heading a Soviet spy ring.

A New Scare (cont.)

− They were executed for espionage in 1953.

• Soviet quick development of atomic bomb in 1949 shocks most Americans.

• Project Verona would later confirmed extensive Soviet spying and an ongoing effort to steal nuclear weapons.

Section 3

• In early 1947, the president established a loyalty review program, to screen federal employees. Instead of calming public suspicion, the program seemed to confirm fears that Communists had infiltrated the government.

• FBI director J. Edgar Hoover urged the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) to hold public hearings on Communist subversion.

A New Scare (cont.)

Section 3

− One of HUAC’s first hearings in 1947 focused on the film industry as a powerful cultural force that Communists might manipulate to spread their ideas and influence.

− In 1950 a pamphlet called Red Channels was published, listing 151 blacklisted actors, directors, broadcasters, and screenwriters. These filmmakers were then unable to get work.

A New Scare (cont.)

Section 3

• Following the federal government’s example, many state and local governments, universities, businesses, unions, churches, and private organizations began their own efforts to find Communists.

A New Scare (cont.)

Section 3

McCarthyism

Senator Joseph R. McCarthy used the fear of communism to increase his own power and destroy the reputations of many people.

Section 3

• Senator Joseph R. McCarthy proclaimed that 205 men in the State Department were proclaimed Communists.

McCarthyism (cont.)

− He distributed a booklet called “The Party of Betrayal,” which accused Democratic party leaders of corruption and of protecting Communists.

Section 3

• After Republicans won control of Congress in 1952, McCarthy became chairman of the Senate subcommittee on investigations.

McCarthyism (cont.)

− McCarthy turned the investigation into a public witch hunt—his tactics became known as McCarthyism.

Section 3

• After six weeks of televised hearings, Joseph Welch, the army’s lawyer, confronted McCarthy about his cruel treatment of people during the trials.

McCarthyism (cont.)

− Later that year, the Senate passed a vote of censure against McCarthy.

− He remained in the Senate, but lost all influence.

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