Truman in the late 1940s, started to introduce doctrines that moved for the “containment” of communist expansion and influence in Europe. There was also the fear of an internal communist threat that spurred the creation of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). The HUAC held public investigations and tried to uncover communist toleration and subversion. One notorious investigation was against Alger Hiss, who was accused of passing classified documents to the Soviet Union in 1937 and 1938. In 1950 the McCarran Internal Security Act passed and required communist organizations to publish their records, and register with the government.
He charged that there were 205 communist spies in the state department who were selling out the United States. McCarthy warned that there were communist traitors in American government and society that were threatening to destroy the United States. He declared: "When a great democracy is destroyed, it will not be because of enemies from without, but rather because of enemies from within." McCarthy called for a "moral uprising" of Americans to drive these dangerous communists out of government and society. He also declared that the United States had lost ground in the world not as a result of foreign aggression, but “because of the traitorous actions of those who have been treated so well by this nation.” The corporate-controlled news media also shared the blame for McCarthy's ability to disseminate "great lies."
On many occasions, this mistrust was born from a lack of communication, and what one nation perceived as a defensive and reactionary move, the other saw as an aggressive and expansionist show of intent. For the United States, it could be argued that the famous fear and hysteria over Communism was born in 1953. On June 19 1953, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed, after being convicted of being American Communists, and conspiring to pass information about the American Atomic Bomb to the Soviet Union. This execution was extremely important, not only because it was the first execution of civilians for espionage in United States history, but it also confirmed to all American citizens that communist spies could be anywhere in the country. This was supported by the work of Senator Joseph McCarthy, whose extensive and often criticized work in searching out Communists in the US Administration and more general society created a hysterical fear of Communism throughout America.
The Red Scare was a period in which many Americans feared that communism would thrive, and the capitalist system in the United States would be threatened. (1947-1957) 2. This was a fragile time for Americans, having just ended one war, and then thrusting into a new one. The fear of Communism has always somewhat paralyzed Americans, except this second Red Scare was particularly fueled by Senator Joseph McCarthy. B. McCarthy’s reasons for his accusations were that he had proof that citizens of the U.S. were in fact members of the Communist party.
Les Arthur class presentation notes on many are the crimes and the second red scare. Many are the crimes ,McCarthyism in America by Ellen Schrecker, is a project that examines how McCarthyism or the second red scare, emerged as the longest period of political repression in American history. Why did this happen? A historian of the era Richard Hofstadter writes in 1963, that nativism, religious fundamentalism, and hatred of the welfare state and United Nations were the ,” deeper historical sources of the great Inquisition.” Schrecker disagrees, she does not see the roots of anti-Communist hysteria within the insecurities and resentments of people who are threatened by social change she argues that,” much of what happened during the McCarthy
McCarthyism and the Red Scare After World War 2, the United States feared that communism will spread throughout the world, even hit the United States. Joseph McCarthy came up with an idea called McCarthyism. McCarthyism is a practice of making false accusations against Americans with ties to communism. During this era many American’s were being accused of being communist. Arthur Miller brought this idea to his own book called The Crucible.
After the end of World War 1, a new fear gripped the world-Communism. The world viewed communism as a threat to democracy and there was an unspoken agreement that the world not allow its spread. This fear only worsened after World War 2 with the signing of the Alien Registration Act of 1940. This act required everyone who was not a legal American resident to fill a form stating their political beliefs. The
Among the people who were to be blamed where scapegoats who were known as the ‘November Criminals’. This idea proved useful in the anti-democratic right wing propaganda. Not even one year into the life of the Republic and there was an unstable nation. In 1918-1919 there was political chaos. With both left and right extremist parties trying to overthrow the government.
A majority of the victims of McCarthyism were somehow associated with Communism; they either were Communists, former Communists, or worked with Communists. Between the late 1940’s and 1950’s, thousands of Americans were accused of supporting communism. Because of their political views, many organizations, such as the FBI, the HUAC, and the SISS, would try to weave out the American Communists. They would be scrutinized through investigations and questioning by these agencies. Those targeted included government employees, union activists and educators—the accused were often given credence of Communism despite the lack of evidence.
Rachel Burkey Mr. Arthur Honors American History II 17 February 2014 Is Terrorism Preventable? Terrorism is defined as “deliberate use of random violence, especially against civilians, to achieve political goals.” Terrorism has been a tactic for religious and nonreligious groups for thousands of years. This strategy involves the idea that the most effective and direct way to affect someone is to affect what they care about. Safety is a necessity of humans and terrorists target that need. This is why terrorism is unpreventable and unable to be alleviated.