Podcast
Questions and Answers
What event in Europe and Asia led to the beginning of the Second Red Scare in the United States?
What event in Europe and Asia led to the beginning of the Second Red Scare in the United States?
- The Marshall Plan
- The establishment of the United Nations
- The end of World War II
- The Soviet occupation in Eastern Europe and the Chinese Communist Revolution (correct)
What was the charge leveled against Alger Hiss?
What was the charge leveled against Alger Hiss?
- Being a member of the Communist Party of America
- Passing atomic secrets to the Soviets
- Spreading communist propaganda
- Passing secret military information to the Soviet Union (correct)
What was the outcome of the trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?
What was the outcome of the trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?
- They were acquitted of all charges
- They were given life sentences
- Their case was dismissed due to lack of evidence
- They were convicted and executed (correct)
What was the purpose of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)?
What was the purpose of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)?
What was the consequence for actors suspected of having communist ties in Hollywood?
What was the consequence for actors suspected of having communist ties in Hollywood?
What did Senator Joseph McCarthy claim to have?
What did Senator Joseph McCarthy claim to have?
What is the term that came to describe reckless charges against innocent citizens?
What is the term that came to describe reckless charges against innocent citizens?
What was the outcome of Senator Joseph McCarthy's accusations?
What was the outcome of Senator Joseph McCarthy's accusations?
What led to the beginning of the Second Red Scare in the United States?
What led to the beginning of the Second Red Scare in the United States?
What was Alger Hiss accused of and what was his sentence?
What was Alger Hiss accused of and what was his sentence?
What was the purpose of the HUAC?
What was the purpose of the HUAC?
What was the outcome of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg's trial?
What was the outcome of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg's trial?
What was the public's reaction to McCarthy's televised hearing?
What was the public's reaction to McCarthy's televised hearing?
What does it mean to be blacklisted?
What does it mean to be blacklisted?
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Study Notes
Communism and the 2nd Red Scare
- After World War II, Americans feared communism would gain strength in the US due to Soviet occupation in Eastern Europe and the communist revolution in China.
- This led to the beginning of the Second Red Scare.
Notorious Spy Trials
- Alger Hiss, former state department official, was accused of passing secret military information to the Soviet Union and sentenced to five years in prison.
- Julius Rosenberg and his wife Ethel, members of the American Communist Party, were accused of passing atomic secrets to the Soviets in 1951 and were both convicted and executed.
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
- HUAC was formed to investigate communist activity in the United States.
- Walt Disney and Ronald Reagan testified that there was a serious threat of communists in the film industry, leading to the blacklisting of actors suspected of having communist ties.
- Blacklisting made it impossible for actors to find work in Hollywood again.
Rise of McCarthyism
- Senator Joseph McCarthy from Wisconsin played upon fears of communism to gain notoriety.
- In 1950, McCarthy claimed to have a list of 205 State Department officials who belonged to the Communist Party, but these charges were never proven.
- McCarthy ruined hundreds of people's careers through reckless accusations, leading to the term "McCarthyism" standing for reckless charges against innocent citizens.
- McCarthy was eventually brought down after his televised hearing, where Americans were shocked and appalled by his accusations.
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