Post on 05-Jan-2016
The Cold War at HomeThe Cold War at Home
Government loyalty checksGovernment loyalty checks
1946: President Truman order 1946: President Truman order investigation of government workersinvestigation of government workers
1947-1951: 3 million investigated as 1947-1951: 3 million investigated as security risks by FBIsecurity risks by FBI
Smith ActSmith Act: Prohibited advocating or : Prohibited advocating or teaching the violent overthrow of the U.S. teaching the violent overthrow of the U.S. governmentgovernment
House Un-American Activities House Un-American Activities Committee (late 1940’s)Committee (late 1940’s)
Held public hearings on “disloyalty”Held public hearings on “disloyalty” Some refused to testify about themselves Some refused to testify about themselves
or othersor others Watkins v. U.S. (1957): witness may Watkins v. U.S. (1957): witness may
refuse to testify if questions do not relate refuse to testify if questions do not relate to lawmaking taskto lawmaking task
Hiss Case: 1948Hiss Case: 1948
Alger Hiss, former State Department Alger Hiss, former State Department member, accused of being a communist member, accused of being a communist by Whitaker Chambers, an editor and by Whitaker Chambers, an editor and former Communistformer Communist
Hiss accused of lying about spyingHiss accused of lying about spying Hiss convicted of perjury, sentenced to Hiss convicted of perjury, sentenced to
five years – served 44 monthsfive years – served 44 months
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg: 1950Julius and Ethel Rosenberg: 1950
Accused of passing atomic secrets to the Accused of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
Executed, 1953, despite little evidence Executed, 1953, despite little evidence against themagainst them
Robert OppenheimerRobert Oppenheimer
Worked on Manhattan projectWorked on Manhattan project Spoke out against the H-bombSpoke out against the H-bomb Government revokes security clearanceGovernment revokes security clearance
McCarthyism: 1950-1953 (Korean McCarthyism: 1950-1953 (Korean War years)War years)
Joseph McCarthy – senator from WisconsinJoseph McCarthy – senator from Wisconsin Held committee hearings in the Senate on the Held committee hearings in the Senate on the
influence of Communism in governmentinfluence of Communism in government Prominent citizens called to testify about Prominent citizens called to testify about
their sympathies and the sympathies of otherstheir sympathies and the sympathies of others Writer, actors, filmmakers, professors, Writer, actors, filmmakers, professors,
entertainersentertainers
McCarthyism: 1950-1953 (Korean McCarthyism: 1950-1953 (Korean War years)War years)
Many falsely accused; some refused to Many falsely accused; some refused to testify and faced contempt chargestestify and faced contempt charges
The “blacklist:” many were fired or not The “blacklist:” many were fired or not hired because of testimonyhired because of testimony
Public turned against McCarthy in 1954 as Public turned against McCarthy in 1954 as hearings televisedhearings televised
President Eisenhower (1953-1961)President Eisenhower (1953-1961)
The “Domino Theory” The “Domino Theory” Secretary of State John Foster DullesSecretary of State John Foster Dulles Once one country became communist, Once one country became communist,
others would followothers would follow Strategy: do not allow any foreign nation Strategy: do not allow any foreign nation
to “fall” to the communiststo “fall” to the communists
Southeast Asian Treaty Southeast Asian Treaty OrganizationOrganization
Britain, France, U.S., New Zealand, Britain, France, U.S., New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand, PhilipinesPakistan, Thailand, Philipines
1954-19771954-1977
SEATO CountriesSEATO Countries
Eisenhower Doctrine (1957-1958)Eisenhower Doctrine (1957-1958)
Middle Eastern countries come under Middle Eastern countries come under Soviet influenceSoviet influence
US would send troops to make sure that US would send troops to make sure that governments did not fall to Communists governments did not fall to Communists in civil warin civil war
US sends troops to Lebanon, 1958US sends troops to Lebanon, 1958
Kennedy (1961-1963)Kennedy (1961-1963)
Space Race: the “New Frontier”Space Race: the “New Frontier” Peace Corps - volunteerismPeace Corps - volunteerism CUBA:CUBA:
1959 – Fidel Castro defeats government1959 – Fidel Castro defeats government Soviet Union aids new nationSoviet Union aids new nation Castro leads country towards communismCastro leads country towards communism Exiles and refugees agitate for counterrevolution Exiles and refugees agitate for counterrevolution
in the USin the US
The Bay of Pigs 1961The Bay of Pigs 1961
Invasion of Cuba by Cuban exilesInvasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles CIA plans and supportsCIA plans and supports American military does not supportAmerican military does not support Invasion fails; embarassing episode for Invasion fails; embarassing episode for
KennedyKennedy
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
Spy planes detect Soviet missiles on Spy planes detect Soviet missiles on Soviet territorySoviet territory
Should Kennedy strike first?Should Kennedy strike first? Soviet ships on their way to CubaSoviet ships on their way to Cuba US Navy blockades island; Soviets turn US Navy blockades island; Soviets turn
backback Khrushchev agrees to take missiles back Khrushchev agrees to take missiles back
to USSRto USSR
Berlin Wall - 1961Berlin Wall - 1961
1950’s: mass emigration out of East 1950’s: mass emigration out of East GermanyGermany
East German government constructs a East German government constructs a wire fence, and later a concrete wall, to wire fence, and later a concrete wall, to prevent citizens from “escaping”to West prevent citizens from “escaping”to West Germany through BerlinGermany through Berlin
Berlin Wall symbolized East German Berlin Wall symbolized East German oppression for 28 yearsoppression for 28 years