The Red ScareThe Red Scare

Whoa- That guy’s a Whoa- That guy’s a communist!communist!

The American Communist The American Communist Party: Party:

Founded in the 1920s. Founded in the 1920s. Why? Because during the great Why? Because during the great

depression, many people felt that depression, many people felt that communism offered an alternative to communism offered an alternative to capitalism. capitalism.

1947-1947-The Hollywood 10 and the The Hollywood 10 and the

BlacklistBlacklist Began around the time of the great depression, Began around the time of the great depression,

which also was at the time of WW2. It was at its which also was at the time of WW2. It was at its greatest height from 1952-1956.greatest height from 1952-1956.

Why was the list created?Why was the list created? There was such a thing called, the American There was such a thing called, the American

communist party. Some members of Hollywood communist party. Some members of Hollywood were open communist sympathizers. The were open communist sympathizers. The American government then began to probe into American government then began to probe into whether the communist were imbedding whether the communist were imbedding communist propaganda into films and radio. communist propaganda into films and radio.

Famous Early TestifiersFamous Early Testifiers

Walt Disney and Ronald Regan Walt Disney and Ronald Regan

Why a Black List?Why a Black List? Hollywood blacklist came to be after the Hollywood blacklist came to be after the

first 10 actors accused refused to name first 10 actors accused refused to name any names or cooperate with the house any names or cooperate with the house committee of un-American activities. committee of un-American activities. They were fired from all acting jobs and They were fired from all acting jobs and removed from the actor’s guild. This removed from the actor’s guild. This prompted the 40 major movie houses to prompted the 40 major movie houses to create a statement banning them from create a statement banning them from work. This was called “the Waldorf work. This was called “the Waldorf statement,” because the meeting took statement,” because the meeting took place in The Waldorf Astoria hotel. place in The Waldorf Astoria hotel.

What it said…What it said… "Members of the Association of Motion Picture Producers "Members of the Association of Motion Picture Producers

deplore the action of the 10 Hollywood men who have been deplore the action of the 10 Hollywood men who have been cited for contempt by the House of Representatives. We do not cited for contempt by the House of Representatives. We do not desire to prejudge their legal rights, but their actions have desire to prejudge their legal rights, but their actions have been a disservice to their employers and have impaired their been a disservice to their employers and have impaired their usefulness to the industry.usefulness to the industry.

We will forthwith discharge or suspend without compensation We will forthwith discharge or suspend without compensation those in our employ, and we will not re-employ any of the 10 those in our employ, and we will not re-employ any of the 10 until such time as he is acquitted or has purged himself of until such time as he is acquitted or has purged himself of contempt and declares under oath that he is not a Communist.contempt and declares under oath that he is not a Communist.

On the broader issue of alleged subversive and disloyal On the broader issue of alleged subversive and disloyal elements in Hollywood, our members are likewise prepared to elements in Hollywood, our members are likewise prepared to take positive action.take positive action.

We will not knowingly employ a Communist or a member of We will not knowingly employ a Communist or a member of any party trying to overthrow the government.any party trying to overthrow the government.

Who was in on it?Who was in on it?

The companies in this statement The companies in this statement included: included:

FoxFox Metro Goldwyn MayerMetro Goldwyn Mayer ColumbiaColumbia ParamountParamount Warner BrothersWarner Brothers UniversalUniversal

The Red Channel The Red Channel PamphletPamphlet

1950- Red Channels was published. 1950- Red Channels was published. This pamphlet attacked the This pamphlet attacked the broadcasting industry and named broadcasting industry and named 151 people. Most of these named 151 people. Most of these named were then barred from the industry. were then barred from the industry.

The Un-American Activity The Un-American Activity CommitteeCommittee

Un-American Activities committee first Un-American Activities committee first came to be in the late 1930’s, which came to be in the late 1930’s, which targeted possible citizens with Nazi targeted possible citizens with Nazi ties. It was only when McCarthy was a ties. It was only when McCarthy was a senator that the committee took on the senator that the committee took on the role of the witch hunters they were role of the witch hunters they were known for. They later changed their known for. They later changed their name to House of Internal Activity, name to House of Internal Activity, until was disbanded in 1975.until was disbanded in 1975.

Show us your papers…Show us your papers… In an effort to try and protect the United In an effort to try and protect the United

States from communist action, States from communist action, an alien an alien registration actregistration act, or the smith act, which , or the smith act, which stated that any activity or affiliation with stated that any activity or affiliation with activity about over throwing the government activity about over throwing the government would be detained. Hundreds were arrested. would be detained. Hundreds were arrested.

By 1957, 140 leaders and members of the By 1957, 140 leaders and members of the Communist Party had been charged under Communist Party had been charged under the law, of which 93 were convicted. Many the law, of which 93 were convicted. Many later said they gave these testimonies under later said they gave these testimonies under duressduress and were false. and were false.

BrainwashingBrainwashing

McCarthyism also believed that McCarthyism also believed that vaccination, fluoridated water and vaccination, fluoridated water and mental health services were a part mental health services were a part of the communist ploy to brainwash of the communist ploy to brainwash America. America.

A slow decline…A slow decline…

After the fever pitch, the decline began when After the fever pitch, the decline began when the Supreme Court stepped in and began to the Supreme Court stepped in and began to see the McCarthy movement as more un-see the McCarthy movement as more un-American that saving actually trying to save American that saving actually trying to save America. People were very close to not being America. People were very close to not being allowed to plead the fifth, our constitutional allowed to plead the fifth, our constitutional law. law.

BUT: Many of the massive security procedures BUT: Many of the massive security procedures and regulations that were created in the and regulations that were created in the McCarthy era still exist today. McCarthy era still exist today.

Patriot ActPatriot Act Treason ProceedingsTreason Proceedings

In conclusion…In conclusion…

It has been revealed that there was a It has been revealed that there was a substantial amount of spying being done substantial amount of spying being done by the Russians to the Americans, and by the Russians to the Americans, and the communist party was heavily funded the communist party was heavily funded by the Soviet Union. So in a sense, there by the Soviet Union. So in a sense, there was vindication for the McCarthy was vindication for the McCarthy movement. But was it taken to an movement. But was it taken to an extreme? extreme?

What do What do youyou think? think?

Julius & Ethel RosenbergJulius & Ethel Rosenberg