Background

A Red Scare had followed U.S. victory in World War I, largely due to the Russian Revolution in 1917.
A second Red Scare followed U.S. victory in World War II.

During the early years of the cold war

Communist successes in Europe & Asia led to paranoia about Communist spies in the US.
Fear that Communists may have infiltrated U.S. State Department, the U.S. military, and all institutions in American society

A. Loyalty Review Board

B. Leaders of Communist party were jailed for advocating the overthrow of the United States government (FBI)

C. Supreme Court Case: Dennis et al. v. United States (1951) (Not complete freedom of speech)

D. McCarran Internal Security Act (1950)

E. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) they call meetings to investigate communism in various industries

Prominent official from the State Department who had assisted Roosevelt at the Yalta Conference
Richard M. Nixon, a young Conservative, helped to investigate the case.
Whittaker Chambers, a confessed Communist testified that Hiss gave him secret information.
In 1950, Hiss was convicted of perjury and sent to prison.
Result: Many Americans could not help wondering whether Communist spies infiltrated the highest levels of government.

American Question: How did the Soviets get the technology to do an atomic bomb?
Klaus Fuchs, a British scientist who had worked on the Manhattan Project, admitted giving A- bomb secrets to the Russians.
FBI investigation traced another spy ring to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in New York.
After a controversial trial in 1951, the Rosenbergs were found guilty of treason and executed for the crime in 1953.
Result: Civil rights groups raised questions about whether anti communist hysteria had played a role in the conviction and punishment of the Rosenbergs

Republican Senator from Wisconsin
Speech in 1950 charged that 205 Communists were still working for the State Department
- Didn’t offer evidence
His Power = Based on fear of the damage McCarthy could do
Working - class Americans loved that he aimed at the wealthy and privileged in society.
Weakening the Democrats (Inadvertently helping Eisenhower become president)

Another Democrat get elected in 1952?

Truman decided to return to private life in Missouri

Republicans blamed “mess on Washington” on Truman.

A Red Scare had followed U.S. victory in World War I, largely due to the Russian Revolution in 1917.
A second Red Scare followed U.S. victory in World War II.

Communist successes in Europe & Asia led to paranoia about Communist spies in the US.
Fear that Communists may have infiltrated U.S. State Department, the U.S. military, and all institutions in American society