Second Red Scare and the End of Post War Euphoria

Question 1

When was the second red scare

Answer 1

1950-54 (ish)

Question 2

What was the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) set up to investigate initially?

Answer 2

The HUAC was set up in 1938 to investigate Americans who sympathised with Nazis.

Question 3

What did the HUAC focus on after the war?

Answer 3

After the war, the HUAC focused on communism.

Question 4

Who did the HUAC campaign against in Hollywood?

Answer 4

The HUAC campaigned against members of Hollywood accused of making movies with communist intent.

Question 5

Who was forced to leave the USA due to accusations from the HUAC?

Answer 5

British citizen and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin was forced to leave the USA due to accusations from the HUAC.

Question 6

What did the HUAC create in 1954?

Answer 6

The HUAC created a ‘blacklist’ of 350 individuals who wouldn’t be employed in the film industry.

Question 7

What was the HUAC suspicious of regarding labour unions?

Answer 7

HUAC was suspicious of labour unions and their link to communism.

Question 8

What did union leaders have to do when accused by the HUAC?

Answer 8

Union leaders had to swear they weren’t communists when accused by the HUAC.

Question 9

Who did the State Department accuse of harbouring communist sympathisers?

Answer 9

The State Department accused wealthy, well-educated classes of harbouring communist sympathisers as they were recruited from these classes. These accusations were from working and middle class (possible class conflict) and they saw the wealthy as soft on communism

Question 10

What did President Truman do in 1947 to fuel charges against government employees?

Answer 10

President Truman introduced Loyalty Review Board to check government employees.

Question 11

How many government employees were dismissed or resigned within four years after Loyalty Review Board was introduced?

Answer 11

Within four years, 1200 government employees were dismissed and 6000 resigned.

Question 12

How many leaders from Communist Party were prosecuted under the 1940 Smith Act?

Answer 12

11 leaders from Communist Party were prosecuted under the 1940 Smith Act.

Question 13

What was the sentence given to those prosecuted under the Smith Act?

Answer 13

The sentence given to those prosecuted under the Smith Act was up to five years in prison.

Question 14

What was the mood in USA during McCarthyism era?

Answer 14

The mood in USA during McCarthyism era was one of paranoia as people lost confidence in struggle against spread of communism.

Question 15

What happened to uni teachers who refused to answer questions about the relationship with the Communist party

Answer 15

They were fired

Question 16

Who was Joseph McCarthy and what did he claim in his speech in 1950?

Answer 16

Joseph McCarthy was a senator for Wisconsin who claimed in his speech on 9th Feb 1950 that the State Department was infiltrated with 200 spies, although he had no evidence to support this claim. He later adjusted the number to 57.

Question 17

What was the result of McCarthy’s speech?

Answer 17

Many people believed McCarthy’s claims, which led to the inauguration of a witch hunt against members of the State Department, other public servants, and even the army.

Question 18

What was McCarthy put in control of in 1953

Answer 18

The Senate Committee

Question 19

How did Mcarthy accuse people

Answer 19

Used technique of ?multiple untruths?, meant accusations so complex meant difficult to unravel or refute them

Question 20

What group supported McCarthy

Answer 20

The American Legion

Question 21

What did McCarthy do that led to his downfall?

Answer 21

McCarthy made aggressive accusations against the military, including condemning highly respected General George Marshall and investigating the Army in 1954 for a supposed nest of communism.

Question 22

How did McCarthy’s tactics affect those around him?

Answer 22

Many people turned against McCarthy due to his bully tactics, and he often appeared drunk during his public appearances.

Question 23

Who attacked McCarthy in a hearing

Answer 23

Army?s attorney Joseph Welch