The document summarizes McCarthyism and the Red Scare in the United States during the 1950s. It describes how Senator Joseph McCarthy exploited widespread anti-Communist hysteria for political gain by making unfounded accusations of Communist infiltration. He targeted government employees, Hollywood figures, and others. Though initially popular, his tactics eventually lost credibility and public support as he made accusations that seemed unjustified.

1. McCarthyism & the Red Scare (Part II)

2. Hysteria Most Americans bought into Red Scare Some welcomed every expos é as victory for American values Interrogations filmed & photographed Just appearing before HUAC could end career Suspect told to ‘name names’ If they were silent, they were suspected of being Communist If they gave names, named people, in turn, were investigated Politicians saw Red Scare as vote-winner Must be seen as being ‘tough on Communism’ Ruthless and ambitious young Republican Senator stepped into limelight: Joseph McCarthy

3. Consider this … After Democrat Adlai Stevenson had made a speech in the 1952 presidential election campaign, a woman praised him; ‘You have captured the vote of every thinking person in America.’ Stevenson is said to have replied, ‘Thank you, Ma’am, but we need a majority!’ What do you think he meant by this? Compare the two political cartoons to the left. Which was made by supporters of HUAC and which by its opponents? Explain your choice carefully!

4. McCarthyism 1950: Sen. McCarthy got his headline Claimed to have list of over 200 Communists in the State Department Claimed list came from FBI (Hoover) Claimed 57 card-carrying Communists in gov’t In fact, 35 were already cleared, 22 still being investigated w/o being charged McCarthy ‘amazed’ by new-found fame Dem. Sen. Millard Tydings said charges false McCarthy attacked Tydings an ‘un-American’ Republicans supported McCarthy in ’52 elections Republicans won many seats Tydings defeated by pro-McCarthy Republican, John M. Brown, after doctored picture was distributed of Tydings & former Communist whom Tydings never, in fact, met

5. Here is the composite picture. Note the two original pictures below the composite. There is something disquieting to me that the very technique that Stalin used to place himself next to Lenin when he wasn’t in fact, there, was later used by McCarthyites to frame an honorable man, accusing him of being a secret Communist. It was a dark day for democracy. The former Communist is Earl Browder, expelled from the American Communist Party in 1946, after he took the position that Communism and Capitalism could peacefully coexist.

7. McCarthyism McCarthy was on a roll! Pres. Ike appointed him head of White House committee to investigate Communist activities in the gov’t 1952-53: turned committee into weapon Used false accusations & bullying Targeted high-profile figures Accused all critics of being Communists The hit list Claimed General George Marshall (Head of military in WWII, Marshall Plan, former Sec State) head of vast Communist conspiracy Eisenhower, Marshall’s friend, did nothing Over 100 university professors fired 324 Hollywood personalities ‘blacklisted’ ‘ Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ an analogy of Communist threat (a quiet, invisible, nonviolent take-over of the USA)

8. McCarthy’s Fall Not everyone approved of McCarthy Never over 50% of public Many senators spoke out against him Hollywood’s biggest stars protested McCarthy Quality newspapers (NY Times, Washington Post) reported balanced pieces damaging him TV journalist Edward R. Murrow devastated him on See It Now simply by showing films of McCarthy’s own statements and behavior After 4 years of hot air McCarthy finally ran out of steam 1954: turned his attacks on the army Accusations seemed ridiculous Became an alcoholic Joseph Welsh, army’s lawyer, steadily humiliated him, finally accusing McCarthy of having no decency W/o credibility he was finished, dieing in 1957 Famous McCarthy & Welsh exchange

9. Do you think McCarthy created anti-Communist hysteria in the USA or simply exploited it? Is it fair to say that McCarthy was helped by inaction from people who might have opposed him?

10. Conservatives versus Radicals Anti-Communism muted, not silent Richard Nixon: Young HUAC member; later President of the USA Phyllis Schlafly: Young researcher, later leader of anti-ERA amendment movement Red Scare part of something larger Desire to return to traditional (rural) values McCarthy supporters likely to oppose Women in work force Rock & roll Civil Rights Movement 1940s –1950s Conservative social views on top The pendulum started to swing back … … starting w/ the Civil Rights Movement

11. Focus Task: What was the Red Scare? You are going to draw your own cloud diagram for the Red Scare. Write ‘The Red Scare’ like this in a cloud in the middle of your page. The Red Scare Fear of Communist spies Rivalry between the political parties Politicians trying to raise their own profile American public hysteria Now draw four clouds around the central cloud: Fear of Communist spies Rivalry between the political parties Politicians trying to raise their own profile American public hysteria Now add another ring of clouds with examples of each of these factors. Write a short paragraph explaining how each of the four clouds contributed to the Red Scare. Now add one last section explaining whether all Americans were taken in by McCarthyism

12. Fin