Download American Society During Cold War Notes

BEGINNINGS OF THE COLD WAR:
TRUMAN & EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATIONS
Chapter 26 Notes
United States History 11
AMERICAN SOCIETY DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF THE COLD WAR
Key Point:
I.
The Cold War heightened Americans’ fears of Communist infiltration and possible atomic attack.
THE RED SCARE:
 The “new” Red Scare began in September 1945 when Igor Gouzenko walked out of the
Soviet Embassy in Canada and defected. Gouzenko carried documents that revealed a
massive effort by the Soviet Union to infiltrate organizations within the U.S. and Canada
with the goal of obtaining information on the atomic bomb; people started to suspect
spies infiltrating the government.
 Within days after delivering the Truman Doctrine, the President established the Loyalty
Review Program to screen federal employees; from 1947-51, over 6 million government
employees were screened for loyalty.
 About 14,000 employees came under scrutiny by the FBI; close to 2,000 quit their
jobs during the checks (many under pressure); 212 were fired for “questionable
loyalty” though there was no evidence that suggested such.
 J. Edgar Hoover (head of FBI) went before the House Un-American Activities
Committee (HUAC) and helped make it a committee of prominence in Congress.
Hoover urged the committee to hold public hearings on Communist subversion – secretly
weaken a society and overthrow its government.
 Purpose of HUAC Hearings: Once Communists were identified the public
would isolate them and end their influence on society; expose Communists and
Communist Sympathizers.
 Alger Hiss Case:
 Alger Hiss was a lawyer and diplomat that served in the Roosevelt administration.
 Hiss was accused of being a Communist and went on trial for providing State
Department documents to Whittaker Chambers of Time; Hiss denied.
 Hiss found guilty of perjury.
 Rosenberg Case:
 Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were accused of running a spy ring and leaking
information about the atomic bomb to the Soviets.
 Rosenberg’s denied the charges, but were sentenced to death and were executed
in June 1953.
 Project Verona: cryptographers were able to crack Soviet spy codes where more than
3,000 messages were intercepted from Moscow. Messages confirmed extensive Soviet
spy operations within the United States; confirmed the guilt of the Rosenbergs.
 Red Scare in Hollywood: HUAC believed the film industry was a powerful instrument
the Communists may use in order to manipulate Americans. Fear of Communists in
Hollywood led to film producers having a blacklist of names where those listed were
snubbed from performing in movies. People could be blacklisted for making bad
remarks about the government, criticizing HUAC, or knowing a suspected Communist.
Even the head of the Screen Actors’ Guild – future President Ronald Reagan – testified
there were Communists in Hollywood.
II.
McCARTHYISM:
 Senator Joseph McCarthy began a witch hunt-type attack on people by labeling them a
suspected Communist.
 Went after people regardless of background or profession – even targeted Dean
Acheson and George Marshall.
 Congress passed the McCarron Act (Internal Security Act), which made it illegal to
“combine, conspire, or agree with any other person to perform any act which would
substantially contribute to the establishment of a totalitarian government.”
 McCarron Act would require all Communist Party and Communist organizers to register
with the United States Attorney General, to publish any records they may have, and
restrict travel for Communists.
 In a time of national emergency it allowed for the arrest of Communists and Communist
sympathizers; Truman vetoed, but Congress overrode the Presidential veto.
 McCarthy’s downfall came during the Army-McCarthy hearings where he continuously
bullied lawyers from the United States Army during televised hearings. There was no
concrete evidence against the Army. RESULT: The Senate would censure McCarthy
(formally disapprove of his actions).
III.
AMERICAN LIFE DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF COLD WAR:
 Soviets successfully tested the H-bomb (hydrogen bomb) in 1953; H-bomb was more
powerful than atomic bomb.
 Americans prepared for a surprise attack from the Soviet Union; families built bomb
shelters and schools even took time out of their day to teach “Duck and Cover” to the
students.