Anti-Communism in Post War America

1. Anti-Communism in Post War America Krishna Singh

2. The Second Red Scare • First Red Scare (1918-1920)- After the Russian Revolution and the formation of the Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA) • During WW2 United States and the Soviet Union promoted Russo-American friendship • However, with Hitler's defeat came the mutual fear and rivalry that produced the new hostility of the Cold War era which led to the new Red Scare

3. The Truman Loyalty Campaign • Issued Executive Order 9835 on March 21st, 1947 • In response to criticism of handling threat of communism • Sweeping loyalty investigation of federal employees • Loyalty Boards in every department • Federal Administrators ran the hearings • Revoked by Eisenhower in 1953

4. HUAC • The House Un-American Activities Committee • Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives who investigated allegations of communist activity in the U.S. during the early years of the Cold War • Formed in 1938 • Subpoenas and Blacklists • Anyone who raised suspicion appeared before committee and were interrogated • Those who refused to cooperate were blacklisted by employers

5. Hollywood Ten • Movie industry believed to harbor a large number of communists • Chaired by Congressman Parnell Thomas • The accused actors only refused to cooperate with the investigation but denounced the HUAC anti-communist hearings • Saw them as outrageous violation of their civil rights • And that the First Amendment gave them right to belong to any political organization they chose

6. Hiss-Chambers Trial • Algers Hiss • President of Carnegie Endowment of International Peace and helped with creation of UN • Whittaker Chambers • Ex-communist and senior editor for Time Magazine • Chambers claimed Hiss was a member of the Communist Party while under federal service • Pumpkin Papers • A bunch of he said she said drama

7. Rosenberg Trials • Klaus Fuchs gave atomic bomb secrets to a Soviet agent • Arrested less than two weeks after Hiss was convicted • Soviet agent identified as middle-aged chemist, Harry Gold • Also got information from a soldier named David Greenglass • Greenglass was giving information to his brother-in-law Julius Rosenberg • Julius and his wife were both found guilty and received death sentences • Case was very controversial

8. Senator Joseph McCarthy • On November 14, 1908 Joseph McCarthy was born into a Roman Catholic family • Dropped out of school, but later went back to complete studies at Marquette University • Historians claim him to be the least qualified and most corrupt politicians of his time • Was unsuccessful lawyer, went into gambling for extra money • Despite being a Democrat early in his political years, he quickly switched into the Republican Party after being overlooked as a candidate in the Democratic Party for district attorney.

9. Senator Joseph McCarthy • Dirty campaign to become circuit court judge • Quit judge job, joined Marines to stimulate political career • Pepsi-Cola Kid • Came home to run as the Republican candidate for the Wisconsin Senate seat • Ran a dirty campaign with this as well • Needed ways to ensure further political success • Exploited American terror against communism

10. McCarthyism • “…the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence.” • Joseph accused many people of communist affiliation, most of it was absurd and irrational • Wheeling Speech • He claimed to have in his hands a list of 205 members of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring currently employed • Owen Lattimore • Drew Pearson

11. McCarran Acts • The Internal Security Act • The Subversive Activities Control Act • Named after Pat McCarran • Required the registration of Communist organizations with the United States Attorney General • Truman called the bill "the greatest danger to freedom of speech, press, and assembly since the Alien and Sedition Laws of 1798."

12. Have You No Sense of Decency? • Where was Eisenhower this entire time?! • Not disciplining McCarthy that’s for sure, smh • Army-McCarthy Hearings • investigating conflicting accusations between the United States Army and Senator Joseph McCarthy • McCarthy thought Army was being too soft on communism as well • All he wanted to do was help out former investigator, and when Army refused he charged them • Welsh asked him the million dollar question • Hearings aired on TV

13. … • Lost credibility in eye of nation • Everyone saw how awful he was • All this time failed to uncover a single communist • Became an alcoholic and died 3 years later • … Oh well.

14. MAFIA TIME!

15. Sources • http://iws.collin.edu/kwilkison/Resources%20for%20Students/redscare.html • http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/alger-hiss-convicted-of-perjury • http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/rosenberg-case.html • http://www.history.com/topics/house-un-american-activities-committee • http://www.history.com/topics/hollywood-ten • http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/McCarthyism.html • http://www.coldwar.org/articles/50s/senatorjosephmccarthy.asp • http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mccarthy-army-hearings-begin