Communism? Here in the USA?

1
Communism? Here in the USA?
NEVER!
2
Spies and Intrigue

• 80,000 US Communist Party members in 1945
• 2 state department officials stole classified
  papers
• A Canadian clerk at the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa
  showed US officials that A-Bomb secrets passed.
• Truman Administration criticized and answered.

3
Truman vs. Commies

• Fed. Employ. Loyalty Security Program
• Loyalty Review Board
• Govt. employees investigated some dismissed
• House Committee on Un-American Activities
• Believed Communists in film industry!
• 500 actors, writers, producer, directors
• BLACKLISTED
• McCarron Act Illegal to plan any act leading
  to a totalitarian state in the US.

4
By 1949, the Soviets controlled most of Eastern
Europe, and it appeared that China would soon
fall to the communists as well. the spread of
communism abroad increased anxieties and
frustration at home," wrote Herb Block. In
their zeal to stamp out all signs of communism in
the United States, professional and amateur
anti-communists threatened to suppress American
liberties as well.
5
The House Committee onUn-American Activities
used Congressional subpoena power to root out US
communists.What does this cartoon say about
their methods?
6
Sen. Joseph McCarthy

• 1952 1954 went on a Witch Hunt accused
• Dem. party of 20 years of harboring Communists.
• 205 in State Dept.
• US Army of being infiltrated.
• Censured by Senate

7
McCarthy often accused people with little or no
evidence of their wrongdoing. What does this
cartoon say about the evidence he did present?
8
Liberties Trampled, Liberties Restored

• Important about the era of McCarthyism, is how
  hysteria in the US over communist influence led
  leaders to allow liberties to be abused.
• The contest over ideologies led to abuses that
  took years to work out of the system.
• The beauty of our democratic system is that it
• did work them out.