McCarthyism and the Cold War Era

McCarthyism

• Refers to the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper evidence, often during the Cold War.
• A key part of political and social climate during the time period.

Senator Joseph McCarthy

• Rose to prominence by claiming to have a list of communists working in the U.S. government.
• Investigated labor unions, and other groups accusing them of communist ties.
• His downfall was marked by his investigation of the U.S. Army, leading to televised hearings that exposed his tactics and lack of substantial evidence.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

• Targeted artists, writers, and government officials accused of communist ties.
• Played a crucial role in the political landscape, scrutinizing various groups.

McCarthy's Downfall

• His investigation of the U.S. Army, leading to televised hearings marked his downfall.
• The hearings revealed McCarthy's tactics and lack of substantial evidence, thus leading to his decline in political influence.

CIA Coups in Iran and Guatemala

• The CIA orchestrated a coup in Iran in 1953 to promote their interests and protect Western oil interests, overthrowing Prime Minister Mossadegh.
• The coup in Guatemala in 1954 was intended to protect the United Fruit Company's interests and remove President Jacobo Árbenz.
• Both cases illustrate covert U.S. involvement in foreign affairs.

Cuban Missile Crisis

• The Soviets initially placed nuclear missiles in Cuba.
• The crisis was resolved through careful diplomacy and negotiation with a mix of negotiations, compromise and threats of war avoiding further escalation.

Emmett Till

• Emmett Till's death in 1955 is significant due to drawing national attention to racial injustice in the South, highlighting the brutality towards African Americans.

The Little Rock Nine

• A group of black students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, amid great opposition.
• Their integration demonstrated the struggles for civil rights and desegregation.

President Eisenhower's Response to Little Rock Crisis

• Sent federal troops to Little Rock to enforce school desegregation, highlighting the presidential response to civil rights issues.

Malcolm X's Philosophy

• Emphasized "by any means necessary" as a means for Black empowerment.
• This involved civil disobedience, fighting for black rights and resisting oppression, and involved violence in self-defense.

Malcolm X's Association

• Initially represented the Nation of Islam.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

• Addressed discrimination in public facilities and employment.

Freedom Rides

• Aimed to challenge segregation on interstate buses and facilities.
• Civil rights activists rode interstate buses throughout the South to protest segregation.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

• Outlawed literacy tests for voter registration.
• Added federal oversight to voter registration, thus combating voter suppression.

Selma to Montgomery March

• Aimed to gain awareness of voting rights issues in the South, highlighting the struggles African Americans faced in gaining their voting rights.

March on Washington

• Demanded civil rights legislation and economic equality, demonstrating the need for civil rights legislation and economic justice.

Brown v. Board of Education

• Overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine, changing the legal and social landscape against segregation.

Governor Orval Faubus

• Attempted to block school desegregation in Little Rock, Arkansas, by employing state-level obstructionism.
• His action was an example of resistance to civil rights.

Freedom Summer Campaign

• Focused on voter registration drives in Mississippi, a region noted for high levels of racial discrimination.

Mississippi Burning

• A campaign that highlighted the violence and struggles against racial discrimination in Mississippi.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Strategy of Nonviolent Resistance

• Dr. King was inspired by Mohandas Gandhi.
• His nonviolent civil disobedience aimed at achieving equality and challenging injustices.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail

• Advocated for immediate action for racial equality and fighting against racial injustice and discrimination while emphasizing nonviolence for change.

Civil Rights Activism

• Movements like the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for desegregation, and fair treatment challenged discriminatory laws.
• Activism, protests, and challenges to unfair treatment were ongoing to attain racial equality.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

• A movement challenging bus segregation in Montgomery, Alabama.
• It was sparked by Rosa Parks refusal to give up her bus seat, highlighting a critical point of civil disobedience.

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

• Created jobs through public works projects, playing a role in economic recovery and societal impact during the Great Depression.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

• Restored trust in the banking system by insuring bank deposits.

Bank Holiday

• Temporarily closed banks to assess their stability and financial strength, aiming to address the financial crisis and prevent further failures.

New Deal Programs

• Aimed to address relief, recovery, and financial reform to impact the needy.
• Provided relief for the economic crisis of the time, including measures impacting unemployment and financial institution reforms.

World War II

• A global war with various conflicts, strategies, and involvement.
• Significant impact globally on major powers resulting in various outcomes.
• Significant losses and social issues.

D-Day

• A turning point in the Allied offensive, a massive amphibious invasion of Normandy signifying the beginning of the end of World War II.

Japanese Internment

• Refers to the relocation and internment camps of Japanese-Americans amidst wartime fears.

Women's Suffrage Movement

• The movement aimed for equal rights including the right to vote.

Muckrakers

• Investigative journalists during the Progressive Era.
• Exposed corruption and social injustices, raising awareness of societal issues.

Old vs New Immigrants

• Cultural and religious differences were key differentiators between older and newly arrived immigrants with significant differences in assimilation rates and facing discrimination.
• Discrimination faced by new immigrants due to cultural, religious, and racial differences.

This quiz explores the phenomenon of McCarthyism during the Cold War, including the rise of Senator Joseph McCarthy and the actions of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). It also discusses significant events like the televised hearings that led to McCarthy's downfall and the role of the CIA in foreign coups. Test your knowledge of this pivotal time in American history.