The Second Red Scare

1950-Senator Joseph McCarthy

The Wisconsin Senator was looking for a campaign issue to earn him some media attention to help him get re-elected.

Second Red Scare

The groundwork for the second Red Scare was set by our mistrust of the Soviets following WWII.

Established 1947, The CIAIs the US spy network.

1949- The Soviet Union explodes its own nuclear weapon.

1949- China falls to the Communists

1950-53 The Korean War

The House on Un-American Activities Committee .

HUAC

It had been formed in 1938 to investigate Americans with Nazi ties. Later it was used to root out communists. McCarthy was a member.

Hollywood becomes the focus of the “Red Scare.”

“The Hollywood Ten “

“ Blacklisting”

1947

Lucille Ball

1953-Investigated by HUAC for registering to vote as a communist in the 1930’s at the urging of her Grandfather.

“The only thing ‘red’ about Lucy is her hair & that’s not even real.” Desi Arnaz

1950- Ethel and Julius Rosenberg

Accused of passing nuclear secrets to the Soviets.

1953- The Rosenberg’s executedfor espionage. Later evidence revealed Julius was a spy but Ethel was not.

1950-Senator Joseph McCarthy

The Wisconsin Senator was looking for a campaign issue to earn him some media attention to help him get re-elected.

In a campaign speech in West Virginia,

McCarthy claims to have a list of 205 known communist agents working in the US State Department.

McCarthyism- The use of unproven accusations to label someone as a communist.

Impacts of McCarthy & Anti-Communist Hysteria:• Politics: moved right – fear that any enlargement of

government role in life was a move towards socialism/communism.

• Laws: many laws passed at all levels preventing communists from doing things or requiring a loyalty oath

• Education: teachers and professors required to take loyalty oaths, textbooks spread anti-communist propaganda

• Entertainment: individual writers, producers, actors, etc. were “blacklisted” from working in Hollywood if they defended themselves against anti-communist charges

1954- The Army-McCarthy hearings

In nationally televised hearings, McCarthy is exposed as a bully and a fraud when he accuses the US Army for sheltering Communists.

A “Witch Hunt”.

1954- McCarthy is censured by the US Senate for conduct unbecoming his office.Irony – very few communists ever in US