McCarthyism & AntiCommunism
The Red Scare
Of The
1940’s – 1950’s
The Beginnings
• Bolshevik Revolution (1917) – creates antiimmigrant sentiments and fears of subversion.
• Created in 1938, the actions of the House of
Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC)
intensified in 1947.
• Investigated the film industry.
Smith Act
• Truman’s persistent prosecution of the
American Communist Party.
• Resulted in over 200 jail terms, and the
formation of the Federal Loyalty Program.
• “Loyalty Boards” – investigated the influence
and infiltration of communists and communist
sympathizers in the executive branch.
McCurran Internal Security Act
• Became law over the veto of the president.
• Required the registration of all communist
groups with the federal governments and
their documents were not considered private.
• Karl Fuchs and the Rosenbergs
• Execution of the Rosenbergs
Senator Joseph McCarthy
• Wisconsin Senator
• Conducted “Communist Witch Hunts” that
consumed the U.S. from 1950-54.
• Political advantage not to oppose McCarthy.
• Democrats were often the target of his
attacks.
McCarthy Cont…
• McCarthy’s accusations were loud, but
inconsistent.
• Began using his committee to investigate
many areas of the federal government.
• Criticized Truman administration.
• N. Korea’s invasion of S. Korea further justified
McCarthy’s claims
McCarthy’s Downfall
• Army – McCarthy hearings (1954)
• The televised hearings revealed in abusive,
rude, and evasive McCarthy.
• A full Senate voted 67 to 22 to condemn him
for abuse of power.
• However, the Government’s hunt for
subversives continued into the 1960’s.
• McCarthyism in America
Social & Cultural Effects
• Film industry was affected significantly by the
blacklisting of writers and actors.
• Producers were careful not to present any
theme that remotely endorsed communism or
even a challenge to the existing order.
• Evil communists were the antagonists in over
40 Hollywood films.
Social & Cultural Effects
• Television was used to promote anti-Soviet
passions and support for US defense and
foreign policy.
• Live broadcasts of nuclear explosions and
news coverage of political figures.
Social & Cultural Effects
• The education system served to teach all
students the norms of citizenship and the
“common” values of U.S. society.
• Pledge of Allegiance
• National Defense Education Act (NDEA) 1958
• Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA)
• Duck and Cover PSA
Social & Cultural Effects
• Pop artists recorded songs directly related to
the Cold War or nuclear disaster.
• Modern art was accused of being communist.
• The atomic bomb led to “nuclear holocaust
literature.”
U.S. Society & Culture
• Society reflected a desire for national unity
and fear of communism and nuclear war.
• Popular culture played to popular themes and
did not challenge the prevailing conventional
wisdom.
• Challenges to the establishment were seen as
UN-AMERICAN.
The Smurfs – Little blue commies or
not?
• You decide…. The Communist Smurfs?