Unit 10.10

The Second Red Scare

Anti-Communist Sentiment in the U.S.In 1917, Bolsheviks in Russia establish a

Communist government that pulls Russia out of WWI

After the war was over, there were mass fears of Communism being spread from Russia to the U.S.Anti-German hysteria Anti-Communist hysteria

During this first Red Scare circa 1919-1920, over 6,000 people were arrested as Communist sympathizers in the Palmer raidsArrests based on limited evidence and many more

people’s civil liberties were severely restricted

The Second Red ScareJust as the first Red Scare followed U.S.

victory in WWI, a second Red Scare followed U.S. victory in WWIIWidespread paranoia that Communist

conspirators and spies were planted in the U.S. State Department, the military, and other institutions

1947: Truman administration set up a Loyalty Review Board to investigate the background of over 3 million federal employeesAs a result, thousands either resigned or lost

their jobs in the four year probe

The Smith ActSmith Act of 1940: Makes it illegal to

advocate or teach the overthrow of the government by force or to belong to an organization with this objective

Leaders of Communist party jailed for advocating the overthrow of the U.S. government

Dennis et al. v. United States (1951) upheld the constitutionalist of the Smith Act

McCarran International Security ActTruman tried to veto this act, but Congress

overrode his veto and passed it with three parts:

1. Made it unlawful to advocate/support the establishment of a totalitarian government

2. Restricted the employment and travel of those joining Communist organizations

3. Authorized the creation of detention camps for subversives

Un-American Activities CommitteeOriginally established in 1939 to seek out

Nazis; now realigned in order to find Communists

Investigated government officials as well as looked for Communist influence in organizations like the Boy Scouts and the Hollywood film industry

Actors, directors, and writers were called before the committee to testifyIf they refused, they were tried for contempt or

blacklisted from the industry

Espionage Cases- The Hiss CaseWhittaker Chambers was a confessed Communist

and star witness for the House Un-American Activities Committee

Chambers’ testimony plus the investigative work of Richard M. Nixon, a young California congressman, led to the trial of Alger Hiss

Hiss was a prominent official in the state department and assisted Roosevelt at the Yalta Conference; he denied the accusations

Convicted of perjury and sent to prison– many Americans wondered whether the highest levels of government had been infiltrated by Communists

Espionage Cases- The Rosenberg Case When the Soviet Union tested

their first atomic bomb in 1949, many Americans believed spies had helped them steal the technology from the U.S.

An FBI investigation traced a spy ring to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a Jewish couple in New York City.

After a controversial trial, the Rosenbergs were found guilty of treason and executed in 1953

Many civil rights organizations believe they were wrongly convicted because of all the anticommunist hysteria

McCarthyism Joseph McCarthy– Who was

he?Republican Senator from

Wisconsin; used anticommunist hysteria to his advantage and to get reelected

Accused 205 State Department officials of being Communists

As a result of his sensational accusations and widespread fears of Communism, McCarthy became one of the most powerful men in the country

His power was based ENTIRELY on fear

McCarthyism Tactics:

His accusations kept the media focused on him and his efforts to discredit the Truman administrationAll of his accusations were completely unsupported

and thrived off the fear of the American public

As a result of his power and popularity, McCarthy’s accusations literally destroyed livesUsed hard-hitting, ruthless, “take the gloves off”

remarks in his accusations

Even President Eisenhower would not defend George Marshall against McCarthy’s untruths

McCarthyismArmy-McCarthy Hearings:

In 1954, McCarthy turned his attention to the Army and accused military leaders of being Communist sympathizers

The televised hearings portrayed McCarthy for the bully and fear-monger he was; Army officials refused to be judged/accused by McCarthy

His “reckless cruelty” led to both political parties banning him from Congress; McCarthy’s “witchhunt” for Communism had come to an end

3 years later, McCarthy died a lonely drunk and the Second Red Scare was over