American History Chapter 25-3

The Second Red Scare

Second Red Scare• Aug., 1949: Soviet Union detonates an atomic bomb.• Communists gain control of China.– The U.S. supported the corrupt gov’t. of Chiang Kai-shek.– Mao Zedong & the Communists forced the Nationalists out.

• Americans become very concerned about the spread of Communism.

Anti-Communism Movement in America• HUAC: House Un-American Activities Committee: – Investigate Communist activities in the U.S.

• 1947: Investigated the film industry.– Hollywood Ten refused to answer questions & were

sentenced to a year in prison.• Scared people into turning in names of other suspected radicals.

More Anti-Communism Activism• 1950 McCarran Act: – Required Communist organizations to register with

the gov’t. – Prevented Communists & radicals from entering the

country.– Pres. Truman vetoed the bill.• Said it would support Communism by making a joke of the

Bill of Rights.– Congress overrode the veto.

American Spy Cases

• 1948: Alger Hiss was accused of being a Communist spy.– Convicted of perjury & served 44 months in prison.

• 1951: Ethel & Julius Rosenberg wereconvicted of spying for the Soviets.- Executed in 1953.

The Rosenbergs

Electrocuted: 1953

Rise of McCarthyism• Senator Joseph McCarthy made charges that there

were Communists holding positions in the U.S. State Department.– Americans believed because they were fearful.– All of McCarthy’s charges were unsubstantiated by

evidence.– He lost credibility when it was discovered he had lied,

manipulated people’s fears, and persecuted individuals.