1.  Why did Americans fear that US security was at risk in the 50s?

• During the 30s the Depression had soured many Americans toward Capitalism
• Communism had become increasingly appealing to those who suffered the most
• in 1934 we officially recognized the USSR and were trying to develop good relations
• 1941 we entered the war on the side of the USSR
  
• 100,000 Americans were part of the Communist Party

2.  What was the purpose of the Loyalty Review Board?

• to investigate government employees for Communist sympathies
• To counter claims by Republicans that the Democrats were soft on Communism
• 3.2 million investigated
• 212 dismissed for questionable loyalty
• 2900 resigned rather than face the Loyalty Board

3.  What did the House Un-American Activities Committee do?

• Originally formed to find Nazi Sympathizers during WWII
• Now looking for Communist sympathizers
• because Hollywood had made some pro-Soviet films during WWII, they subpoenaed 43 film stars, writers, directors
• Most were 'friendly', supporting the idea that there was too much pro-Communism in Hollywood
• 10 were 'unfriendly', believed hearings were unconstitutional and wouldn't cooperate
• They were sent to prison
• frightened, Hollywood executives made a blacklist of people they thought might have Communist leanings and refused to hire them.
• 500 actors, writers, producers and directors had their careers ruined

4. What else did Congress do to find and root out Communism?

• Passed the McCarran Act to make it illegal to plan any act that could lead to a totalitarian dictatorship in the US
• Truman vetoed: we punnish people for their acts, not their thoughts!
• passed over his veto

5.  What was the Alger Hiss Case?

• State Department official accused of being a spy by a confessed 'former' Communist Spy, Whittaker Chambers
• Chambers provided some microfilm of gov docs as 'proof' of Hiss' spying
• Hiss was found guilty by a jury of perjury: lying about the docs.
• Young Republican congressman Richard Nixon gained fame for prosecuting the Hiss case

6. Who were the Rosenbergs?

• Sep 3, 1949 Soviets tested 1st A-bomb
• how had they gotten it so fast??
• 1950 German born Klaus Fuchs admitted to giving them secrets
• The Rosenbergs were implicated in the Fuchs case
• known to have been members of the Communist party, they refused to answer questions about that
• found guilty of espionage, sentenced to death
• evidence and testimony was weak
• executed by electric chair

7.  Who was Joseph McCarthy and what did he do?

• Republican senator from Wisconsin
• running for reelection, claimed there were ____ known Communists in the State Department and Truman wasn't doing anything about it
• number kept changing (51,78, 205)
  
• never showed the list to anyone
• Accused Democrats of 20 years of treason!
  
• Most Republicans kept silent to improve chances of winning presidency in 1952.

8. How did McCarthy finally go too far?

• 1954 accused the army of disloyalty to America
• led to televised Senate hearings
• McCarthy's bullying of witnesses cost him most of his support
• Senate censored him (not allowed to speak in Senate again)
• died in 1957 of complications from Alcoholism