The Second Red Scare

1. The Second Red Scare Unit 10.10

2. 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 raids • Arrests based on limited evidence and many more people’s civil liberties were severely restricted

3. The Second Red Scare • Just as the first Red Scare followed U.S. victory in WWI, a second Red Scare followed U.S. victory in WWII • Widespread 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 employees • As a result, thousands either resigned or lost their jobs in the four year probe

4. The Smith Act • Smith 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

5. McCarran International Security Act • Truman tried to veto this act, but Congress overrode his veto and passed it with three parts: • Made it unlawful to advocate/support the establishment of a totalitarian government • Restricted the employment and travel of those joining Communist organizations • Authorized the creation of detention camps for subversives

6. Un-American Activities Committee • Originally 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 testify • If they refused, they were tried for contempt or blacklisted from the industry

7. Espionage Cases- The Hiss Case • Whittaker 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. McCarthyism • Tactics: • His accusations kept the media focused on him and his efforts to discredit the Truman administration • All 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 lives • Used hard-hitting, ruthless, “take the gloves off” remarks in his accusations • Even President Eisenhower would not defend George Marshall against McCarthy’s untruths

11. McCarthyism • Army-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