18.2 Critical Thinking
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1. Why were Americans worried about the security of the US?
Soviet control of Eastern Europe & Communist takeover of China created
fear that Communism would spread. 100,000 Americans were
members of the Communist Party in the US.
•
2. What was the purpose of the Loyalty Review Board?
Investigate gov’t employees who may be communist and dismiss them if
they were found to be disloyal to the US.
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3. What did the House Un-American Activities Committee do?
Investigated possible commies in the US gov’t and civilians. Targeted
Hollywood
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4. Who were the Hollywood Ten?
Ten witness who refused to testify about commies in Hollywood because
they felt the hearings were unconstitutional and were sent to prison.
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5. Why was State Department official Alger Hiss investigated?
He was suspected of spying for the SU, claimed he was set up but was
later found to be actually spying.
18.2 Critical Thinking
•
6. Who were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?
Jewish couple found guilty of spying and sentenced to death. They were
the first Americans executed for espionage
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7. What was controversial about McCarthy’s tactics?
Accused people of being commies without any actual proof. He often
claimed to have lists of names of commies in the gov’t but never
produced them.
•
8. Why did most Republicans remain silent about McCarthy’s “Witch
Hunt”?
They wanted to use it as a political tool to when the election of 1952 by
playing off the fears of the American public
•
9. What caused McCarthy’s downfall?
He went after the Army and people were turned off when they saw him
bully witnesses on TV
•
10. What other anti-Communist measures were enacted in the early
1950s?
Laws were passed to make it illegal to advocate violent overthrow of
gov’t. People had to take loyalty oaths and all professions were
investigated for commie
The Cold War at Home
McCarthyism
•
Work with your neighbors to answer the
following questions about McCarthyism:
1. What seems to have motivated it?
2. Why did it succeed at first?
3. Why did it fall out of favor?
•
Your answers may require more than 1
sentence. Be sure to give examples.
The Cold War at Home
McCarthyism
1.
What seems to have motivated it?
McCarthy’s desire to be reelected; Republicans’ desire to win
presidential election; growing fears of communism & suspicion
of foreign influences in the US
2.
Why did it succeed at first?
McCarthy fed on the public’s fears & gave them the impression
that he was purging the nation of a very dangerous, and
seemingly very real, Commie menace
3.
Why did it fall out of favor?
In televised hearings, McCarthy bullied witnesses,
turning the public against him. There was no proof
for his accusations
The Cold War at Home
Role Play
• In groups of 3 you will create a role play describing how
the following groups were affected by the Red Scare.
• The Hollywood Ten
• Alger Hiss
• Ethel & Julius Rosenberg
• During your role play, you must address the following
questions:
– What were they accused of?
– How were they affected by the accusations?
– Do the accusations seem to have been fair? Explain.
• Each person in the group must participate. Be creative in
your role play: news report, talk show, reenactment,
court hearing, conversation during coffee, etc….
• Write your dialogues in your note book