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.
Anyone accused of being a Communist (reasons included signing a petition, attending a protest, joining unions or private organizations, selling atomic secrets and being related to Communists) would be put on trial for a senate hearing. “By putting Communists on trial, the Truman administration shaped the American public’s view of domestic communism. It transformed party members from political dissidents into criminals-with all the implications that such associations inspired in a nation of law-abiding citizens” (Schrecker 27). The program tests federal employees and prohibits anyone associated with Communists within the government. The nation’s security is a example of Communism shown through agents like Alger Hiss, who brought before HUAC on charges of being Russian spy.
During the pentrich rebellion government spy Oliver persuaded local radicals to march on Nottingham where they were met with troops. This was a dangerous strategy in a time of great civil unrest and could easily create more anger towards the Government, as their actions may have been seen as entrapment. On the other hand the fact there was an attempt by radicals to blow up the cabinet, indicates a serious threat. Also the radical threat was now country wide involving lower and middle classes, thus a spy network was needed and Liverpool cleverly used it to find leaders of radical movements and successfully managed to integrate spies into radical movements. It can also be said the government’s idea to suspend Habeas corpus in 1817 also contributed to the government’s success in dealing with
Eleanor however, is the one who is in charge of Senator John Yerkes Iselin’s political career and has plans to secure the presidency under Communist influence. For this to actually happen, they had to convince the citizens that communism should be feared and that it also relates to terrorism. Due to the Red Scare that was taking place during the Cold War, the audience and the citizens had a fear of paranoia. Given that the movie was filmed during the Cold War as well, this greatly expanded the communist scare even more. The politicians during the war and in the film manipulate citizens into thinking that there are communists within the United States 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."
Was the 1950s truly the Decade of Conformity? During the 1950s, conformity was common; conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group. Communism was the American enemy and American sought to rid the world of it. Because of the extreme paranoia caused by Communism, conformity became an ideal way to distinguish American Culture from the rest. Many social and political factors occurred during the 50s such as McCarthyism, Brown vs. Board case, Suburbia, and television.
Communism was a major unifying force after WW2. Discuss Russia’s spread of its communist regime throughout Europe led to it being a major unifying force but also the opposite. It created a union of states between other communist countries but also a fear within Western Europe. The spread of communism in Europe also affected the USA cause it to set up many organisations such as NATO and the Marshall plan to fight it. Although it unified, it also brought about separation, with the division of Germany and of Berlin.
Miller wanted to spread the word, throughout the United States, that our country was in a state of paranoia and that the House Un-American Activities Committee were practicing McCarthyism, through The Crucible. Arthur Miller was trying to show the 1950’s citizens how history can repeat itself, and, through Abigail, show how we, as human beings, have become selfish and only want to save ourselves, rather than
It will outline as well as discuss the way in which mass media engage in moral panics. It will analyse Stan Cohen’s study on moral panics, and also including other studies done by famous theorists such as Stuart Hall supporting the idea of ‘moral panics’. According to Marxist what is classified as deviant and criminal behaviour is behaviour that the rich and powerful classify according to their own norms and values. They believe social agents such as the mass media are used by the wealthy and powerful in social to their own advantage. The powerful such as the police have the power to decide what gets reported to the public and use the mass media to enhance control by creating fear within society.
This essay will explore the interpretations with evidence as to what caused the purges. A reason for the causation of the purges is Stalin’s paranoid nature, which led him to instigate the purges and therefore demonstrate his power for those who may threaten it or doubt it. Stalin’s paranoia caused him to think anyone that would challenge or mock him is an ‘enemy’ causing him to humiliate anyone who insulted him. A key reason for the purges is the intense paranoia that Stalin felt when Hitler announced his plans for invading Russia whilst Stalin’s power wasn’t as secure as he hoped. The purges would be an efficient way of ensuring that nobody would question Stalin’s leadership.