To What Extent Did The Cold War Affect Life Within The USA? Flashcards
(74 cards)
What is the Red Scare?
A growing fear that communist ideas would spread and perhaps lead to a communist revolution and creation of a communist dictatorship in the USA.
Communists and other radical left-wing groups were known as Reds.
When did the first major Red Scare take place?
1919
This was when the federal government launched the Palmer Raids.
What significant event occurred after the Second World War?
The Cold War began
This was marked by a series of geopolitical tensions between the USA and the USSR.
What was the Berlin Airlift Crisis?
A major event in 1948-49 during the Cold War where the USA and its allies airlifted supplies to Berlin after the Soviet blockade.
What speech did Joseph McCarthy make about communist subversion?
Wheeling Speech
This speech claimed that communists had infiltrated the State Department.
What act was passed in 1952 aimed at controlling immigration related to communism?
McCarran Act
What was the purpose of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1953?
To regulate immigration and prevent the entry of communists into the United States.
When did the Korean War begin?
1950
What was the outcome of the Korean War?
The Korean War ended in 1953.
What was the Hollywood Ten investigated for?
Allegations of communist subversion
They were a group of screenwriters and directors accused of having communist ties.
What was the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) originally created for?
To protect the USA against Nazi German spying and subversion.
What did President Truman introduce in 1947 related to federal employees?
New loyalty and security checks to see if they had communist sympathies.
What was Executive Order 9835?
It created the Federal Employee Loyalty Program.
How many federal employees resigned between 1947 and 1951 due to loyalty checks?
Nearly 3,000
What was the outcome of the Dennis v. the United States case?
It upheld the Smith Act of 1940 against communists.
What was the significance of the Iron Curtain as described by Winston Churchill?
It symbolized the division of Europe into communist and non-communist spheres.
What did the discovery of secret documents in the Amerasia magazine offices indicate?
A serious threat to US security due to suspected communist activity.
True or False: The USA was the only power with nuclear weapons until 1949.
True
Fill in the blank: The _______ was a series of investigations led by HUAC into communist influence in America.
Red Scare
What were the consequences for those investigated by HUAC?
Many faced public scrutiny, loss of employment, and blacklisting.
What was the purpose of the HUAC?
The HUAC investigated communist infiltration across American society and attempted to expose communist supporters in the federal government, trade unions, and Hollywood.
What significant act was passed in 1940 to combat communism?
The Smith Act of 1940 allowed the prosecution of anyone who supported and promoted communism.
What was President Truman’s stance on communism in Europe?
In March 1947, Truman advocated for massive US aid to Europe, stating that the Soviet Union was a major threat to democracy.