HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON The American Nation HOLT 1 Objectives: What actions did the U.S. government take to limit communism at home, and how did these

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON

The American NationThe American NationHOLTHOLT

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Objectives:Objectives:What actions did the U.S. government take to What actions did the U.S. government take to

limit communism at home, and how did these limit communism at home, and how did these actions affect daily life in America?actions affect daily life in America?

How was Senator Joseph McCarthy able to play How was Senator Joseph McCarthy able to play upon Americans’ fears of communism?upon Americans’ fears of communism?

How did Americans react to the prospect of How did Americans react to the prospect of nuclear war?nuclear war?

Section 4: The Cold War at HomeSection 4: The Cold War at Home



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The Twin Fears: America and the Cold The Twin Fears: America and the Cold WarWarFear of nuclear Fear of nuclear

annihilation annihilation Soviet Union created Soviet Union created

nuclear weapons to nuclear weapons to defend itselfdefend itself

US and USSR targeted US and USSR targeted each other with an each other with an increasing battery of increasing battery of nuclear weapons nuclear weapons

Fear of Communist Fear of Communist subversion subversion (overthrow) inside the (overthrow) inside the United StatesUnited StatesSoviet communists Soviet communists

supported growth of supported growth of international international communismcommunism

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Forum Questions related to this lectureForum Questions related to this lecture As Communist governments increased their As Communist governments increased their

reach around the world in the late 1940's reach around the world in the late 1940's and 1950's, Americans grew worried that and 1950's, Americans grew worried that communists and communist sympathizers communists and communist sympathizers with influence (such as government with influence (such as government officials, teachers and members of the mass officials, teachers and members of the mass media) would weaken the American media) would weaken the American commitment of freedom and liberty and commitment of freedom and liberty and make the nation an inviting target for a make the nation an inviting target for a communist take-over. communist take-over. How did the fear of How did the fear of communism influence life in America? communism influence life in America? Use evidence from the primary sources Use evidence from the primary sources provided as well as the video we watched in provided as well as the video we watched in class to support your point of view.class to support your point of view.

In 1947, the Soviet Union successfully tested In 1947, the Soviet Union successfully tested its first nuclear device and with it, the its first nuclear device and with it, the possibility of making the Cold War into a possibility of making the Cold War into a nuclear war for Americans. From that point, nuclear war for Americans. From that point, the Soviet Union and United States entered a the Soviet Union and United States entered a deadly arms race that led to the creation of deadly arms race that led to the creation of increasingly deadly nuclear arsenals with the increasingly deadly nuclear arsenals with the capability of creating thousands of capability of creating thousands of Hiroshimas. Hiroshimas. How did the American public How did the American public live with the risks of a deadly nuclear live with the risks of a deadly nuclear war? war? We will watch a civil defense video We will watch a civil defense video that instructs people how to react to a nuclear that instructs people how to react to a nuclear attack. You will also have the opportunity to attack. You will also have the opportunity to tour a fallout shelter and read a civil defense tour a fallout shelter and read a civil defense plan. Develop a clear point of view and plan. Develop a clear point of view and support it with supporting primary evidence support it with supporting primary evidence from the sources providedfrom the sources provided

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Government actions to limit communism at homeGovernment actions to limit communism at home Internal Security Act required Communist Party members Internal Security Act required Communist Party members

to register with the federal government and imposed to register with the federal government and imposed immigration controls on Communist sympathizers.immigration controls on Communist sympathizers.

Loyalty Review Board investigated more than 20,000 Loyalty Review Board investigated more than 20,000 federal employees, firing many.federal employees, firing many.

HUAC investigated peace organizations, liberal groups, HUAC investigated peace organizations, liberal groups, labor unions, the movie industry, and individuals, leading labor unions, the movie industry, and individuals, leading to blacklists and other damage.to blacklists and other damage.

Public hysteria resulted and many Americans’ civil rights Public hysteria resulted and many Americans’ civil rights were violated.were violated.




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McCarthy’s use of American fearsMcCarthy’s use of American fearsclaimed to have evidence of Communist claimed to have evidence of Communist

infiltration of U.S. governmentinfiltration of U.S. governmentused his Senate subcommittee to question the used his Senate subcommittee to question the

patriotism of hundreds of government workerspatriotism of hundreds of government workersruined many reputations and cost people their jobsruined many reputations and cost people their jobs




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The Red Menace (1947)The Red Menace (1947) Synopsis:Synopsis:

Bill Jones returns to the Bill Jones returns to the homefront after World War II homefront after World War II hoping for an idyllic peaceful hoping for an idyllic peaceful society; instead, he finds society; instead, he finds poverty and corruption and a poverty and corruption and a government that fails to help government that fails to help the common man -- and so the common man -- and so becomes ripe for Communist becomes ripe for Communist recruitment. At first he finds recruitment. At first he finds the movement compatible, the movement compatible, but eventually he recognizes but eventually he recognizes the enemy spies as a threat the enemy spies as a threat to democracy. to democracy.



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American reaction to possibility of American reaction to possibility of nuclear warnuclear warMany turned to religion.Many turned to religion.Some built bomb shelters.Some built bomb shelters.Air-raid drills conducted in schools and public places.Air-raid drills conducted in schools and public places.Civil Defense education programs conducted.Civil Defense education programs conducted.SANE established.SANE established.Arms race and space exploration supported.Arms race and space exploration supported.




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Tippy teachs us the nuclear basicsTippy teachs us the nuclear basicshttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=211172

294308374001



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Some (In)famous Results of the Anti-Communist Some (In)famous Results of the Anti-Communist Activities of the Post-War Era: The Hollywood Activities of the Post-War Era: The Hollywood Ten (1947)Ten (1947)

HUAC determined that Hollywood was HUAC determined that Hollywood was full of communistsfull of communists Fear of the power of the mass media to Fear of the power of the mass media to

promote communist messages.promote communist messages. Many actors, directors and screenwriters Many actors, directors and screenwriters

testified and offered lists of communists.testified and offered lists of communists. Ten people went to jail rather than testify… Ten people went to jail rather than testify…

Careers ruinedCareers ruined People who opposed the HUAC were People who opposed the HUAC were

harassed by the FBIharassed by the FBI



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The Rosenberg Case: (1951)The Rosenberg Case: (1951) Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were

physicists who had access to nuclear physicists who had access to nuclear technology secrets.technology secrets.

U.S Court convicted the Rosenbergs of U.S Court convicted the Rosenbergs of giving nuclear secrets to the Soviet giving nuclear secrets to the Soviet UnionUnion

Many leftists saw America’s nuclear Many leftists saw America’s nuclear monopoly as undesirable.monopoly as undesirable.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were electrocuted in June 1953electrocuted in June 1953



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Alger Hiss Spy Case (1948)Alger Hiss Spy Case (1948) Alger Hiss- A State Department official Alger Hiss- A State Department official

accused of spying for communists.accused of spying for communists. Whittaker Chambers, former communist Whittaker Chambers, former communist

spy, testifies to HUAC that Hiss gave spy, testifies to HUAC that Hiss gave him government secrets.him government secrets.

Hiss accused Chambers of slander.Hiss accused Chambers of slander. Chambers produced microfilmed Chambers produced microfilmed

government documents proving Hiss’ government documents proving Hiss’ guiltguilt

Hiss spends 5 years in jailHiss spends 5 years in jail



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Some (In)famous Results of the Anti-Some (In)famous Results of the Anti-Communist Activities of the Post-War Era: Communist Activities of the Post-War Era:

Joseph Mc CarthyJoseph Mc CarthyArmy-McCarthy hearingsArmy-McCarthy hearings

At the height of McCarthy’s anti-communist crusade, At the height of McCarthy’s anti-communist crusade, he attacked the US Army.he attacked the US Army.

Army’s attorney Joseph Welch challenges McCarthy’s Army’s attorney Joseph Welch challenges McCarthy’s motives and methods.motives and methods.

Thirty-five days of televised hearings produce no Thirty-five days of televised hearings produce no evidence.evidence.

Beginning of the end of “McCarthyism”Beginning of the end of “McCarthyism”



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SECTION 4

The Cold War at HomeThe Cold War at Home

Question:What actions did the U.S. government take to limit communism, and how did these actions affect Americans’ everyday lives during the Cold War?



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SECTION 4

The Cold War at HomeThe Cold War at Home

created public hysteria about communist infiltration and led to

the infringement of many Americans’ civil rights

Loyalty Review Board—investigation of more tan 20,000 federal employees, resignation of some 2,000 federal employees, and firing of some 300 others

HUAC—investigation of peace organizations, liberal political groups, labor unions, the movie industry, and individuals accused of spying; resulted in blacklisting, hysteria, and scaring people away from unions and progressive groups

GOVERNMENT ACTIONS TO LIMIT COMMUNISM, AND THE RESULTS

Internal Security Act—required Communist Party members and organizations to register with the government and imposed controls on

immigrants suspected of being Communist sympathizers

Documents

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON The American Nation HOLT 1 Objectives: What actions did the U.S. government take to limit communism at home, and how did these