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The Cold War At Home

The Cold War At Home. 18.3. Fear of Communist Influence. Soviet dominance shocked American public After WW2 – about 100,000 American’s claimed membership to the Communist Party. Loyalty Review Board March 1947 Executive Order: Federal Employee Loyalty Program

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The Cold War At Home

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  1. The Cold War At Home 18.3

  2. Fear of Communist Influence • Soviet dominance shocked American public • After WW2 – about 100,000 American’s claimed membership to the Communist Party

  3. Loyalty Review Board • March 1947 • Executive Order: Federal Employee Loyalty Program • Purpose: to investigate government employees and to dismiss those disloyal to the U.S. • Investigated 3.2 million Americans between ‘47 and ’51 with 212 total dismissals

  4. House of Un-American Activities Committee {HUAC} • Investigated Communist influence in movies • Subpoenaed 43 witnesses to testify against the movie industry • Hollywood Ten: 10 men who refused • stated it was unconstitutional  jailed • Made a blacklist of those with a Communist background and condemned them

  5. The McCarran Act • 1950 • Congress passed the McCarran Internal Security Act • Made I unlawful to plan any action that might lead to the establishment of a totalitarian dictatorship • Truman vetoed but Congress enacted the law over his veto

  6. Spy Cases Stun the Nation • Alger Hiss • 1948 • Accused of spying for the Soviet Union by Whittaker Chambers • Chambers produced microfilm evidence he claimed had come from Hiss’s typewriter • Convicted to perjury and sent to jail • Nixon gained fame for pursuing charges against Hiss • Led to him becoming Vice President

  7. Alger Hiss Whittaker Chambers

  8. September 3, 1949 • American’s learn that the Soviet Union exploded an atomic bomb • Predicted that it would take 3 to 5 more years before they had the technology • Led to wonder if Communist supporters had leaked the secrets

  9. The Rosenbergs • 1950 • Klaus Fuchs admits to giving the Soviet Union information about the atomic bomb • Implicated were also Ethel and Julius Rosenberg • Minor activists in the American Communist Party • Plead the 5th • Believed they were being persecuted for being Jewish and having radical beliefs • Found guilty of espionage and sentenced to death

  10. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg

  11. McCarthyism • Senator Joseph McCarthy • Republican from Wisconsin • Acquired a reputation for being an ineffective legislator • Looking for reelection, he claimed that Communists were taking over the government

  12. Took advantage of the American people’s fears • Charged anywhere from 50 to 200 people with Communist activities • “I have in my hands!” • Charged the Democratic Party with “20 years of treason” • Republicans did little to stop him because they wanted to win the Presidential election in 1952

  13. McCarthy Downfall • 1954 • Accused the Army of treason • Brought forth a nationally televised Senate investigation • McCarthy bullied the witnesses which cost him public support • Senate condemned him

  14. Other Anti-Communist Measures • By 1953 • 39 states passed laws making it illegal to advocate the violent overthrow of the government • Later these laws were declared unconstitutional

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