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