Chapter 28: Post World War II Era - The Red Scare Part 2

The Red Scare Part 2

The Red Scare: Refers to the fear of communism in the US, particularly after WWI and WWII.
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC): A permanent committee in the House of Representatives that began investigating communist activities in the 1930s.
Communism in the 1930s and New Deal:
- Communists were noted for discussing civil rights.
- Formed committees to aid countries in crisis.

HUAC gained fame investigating Hollywood for communist influences.
- Investigated movies for Marxist language.
- Many famous actors and actresses were called to testify.
- Hollywood Ten: A group of mostly writers and producers who refused to cooperate, were fined, and jailed.
- Blacklist: Studios created lists of people thought to be too far left, making it hard for them to find work.

Alger Hiss: Worked in the State Department, accused by Whittaker Chambers of being a communist and spy.
- Chambers provided detailed descriptions and evidence, including documents typed on Hiss's typewriter.
- Hiss was convicted of perjury, not espionage, and served 5 years, released after 3.5 for good behavior.
Impact: Democrats claimed Hiss was railroaded, Republicans used the case to highlight anti-communist efforts.

Nixon's career benefited from his work on the Hiss case.
- Won House seat in 1946, Senate in 1950, and became VP under Eisenhower in 1952.

The Red Scare led to loyalty oaths in federal government, schools, and private companies to swear allegiance and deny communist ties.

Senator Joe McCarthy: Claimed to have a list of communists in the State Department, never produced evidence.
- Accused many without proof, leading to widespread fear and destruction of reputations.
- Self-destructed after a confrontation with Edward R. Murrow and attempts to accuse the army.
- McCarthyism: Term now used for baseless accusations and witch hunts.

Elected in 1952, Republicans took control of House and Senate.
Domestic Policy:
- Did not dismantle New Deal programs, expanded some.
- Korean War: Ended with an armistice, implied threat of nuclear force.
- Bracero Program: Expanded legal migrant labor program, deported over 1 million illegal immigrants.
- Federal-Aid Highway Act (1956): Created the Interstate Highway System, funded by federal fuel tax.
Defense Strategy:
- Focused on air force and missiles over traditional military forces.
- Strategy changed after 1957 when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, showing capability to reach the US with missiles.
- U-2 incident with Gary Powers damaged US-Soviet relations.

Vietnam divided into North (communist) and South (non-communist) after French defeat.
Cuba: Fidel Castro came to power, declared support for democracy but acted otherwise, leading to tensions.

Jackie Robinson (1947): Broke color barrier in Major League Baseball.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Supreme Court case ended segregation in public schools.
Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955): Rosa Parks' arrest led to a bus boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr., challenging segregation laws.
Little Rock Central High School (1957): Integration of the school led to federal intervention by Eisenhower against state resistance.

Candidates: John F. Kennedy (Democrat) vs. Richard Nixon (Republican).
- Debates: First televised debate, Kennedy appeared cool and collected, Nixon appeared less favorable on TV.
- Outcome: Kennedy won, partly due to support from Martin Luther King Jr. and effective TV presence.
- Controversy: Allegations of election fraud in Chicago and Texas, Nixon chose not to contest the results for the sake of national unity.