8.2 McCarthyism and the Red Scare

The Cold War's tensions sparked a wave of anti-communist paranoia in the U.S. known as the Second Red Scare. This period, from the late 1940s to late 1950s, saw intense suspicion and fear of communist infiltration in American institutions and society.

Senator Joseph McCarthy became the face of this movement, using aggressive tactics to accuse people of communist sympathies. His actions, known as McCarthyism, led to blacklists, ruined careers, and a climate of fear that stifled free speech and civil liberties.

The Second Red Scare

Origins and Context

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• The Second Red Scare, which occurred from the late 1940s to the late 1950s, was a period of intense anti-communist suspicion and fear in the United States
• The origins of the Second Red Scare can be traced to the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War, as tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union escalated
• The Soviet Union's development of nuclear weapons, the fall of China to communism, and the outbreak of the Korean War contributed to the perception of a growing communist threat
• The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), established in 1938, intensified its investigations into alleged communist infiltration of American institutions during this period
• The federal government implemented loyalty programs and required employees to take loyalty oaths, leading to the dismissal of individuals suspected of having communist ties

Factors Contributing to Anti-Communist Sentiment

• The Truman Doctrine (1947) pledged American support to nations threatened by communist subversion or aggression, setting the stage for a global confrontation with communism
• The Berlin Blockade (1948-1949) and the division of Germany into East and West further heightened Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union
• The successful Soviet test of an atomic bomb in 1949 shocked Americans and fueled fears of a nuclear arms race and potential Soviet aggression
• The conviction of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for espionage in 1951 and their subsequent execution in 1953 reinforced the belief that communist spies had infiltrated American society
• The rise of communist governments in Eastern Europe and the victory of Mao Zedong's communist forces in China (1949) contributed to the perception of a global communist threat

McCarthyism's Tactics and Impact

Senator Joseph McCarthy's Anti-Communist Campaign

• Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin became the face of the Second Red Scare, leading a campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. government and other institutions
• McCarthy's tactics included making unsubstantiated accusations, using intimidation, and exploiting the media to spread fear and suspicion
  • He claimed to have lists of known communists working in the State Department and other government agencies, although the numbers and evidence were often exaggerated or fabricated
• McCarthy's investigations targeted individuals in various sectors, including government officials, Hollywood actors and writers, and academics
• The term "McCarthyism" was coined to describe the practice of making unfounded accusations of subversion or treason without proper evidence

Consequences of McCarthy's Actions

• McCarthy's actions led to the blacklisting and ruined careers of many individuals, creating a climate of fear and self-censorship
  • Examples include the Hollywood Ten, a group of writers and directors who were blacklisted for refusing to cooperate with HUAC investigations
• The Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954, which were televised nationally, exposed McCarthy's controversial tactics and led to a decline in his popularity and influence
  • During the hearings, Army lawyer Joseph Welch famously asked McCarthy, "Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?"
• McCarthy's downfall was hastened by his accusations against the U.S. Army, which led to the hearings and revealed his reckless and unsubstantiated allegations
• In December 1954, the Senate voted to censure McCarthy for his conduct, marking a turning point in the Second Red Scare and a repudiation of his tactics

McCarthyism's Effects on America

Impact on Civil Liberties and Political Discourse

• McCarthyism had far-reaching effects on American society, stifling political discourse, free speech, and civil liberties
• Many Americans, fearing accusations of communist sympathies, engaged in self-censorship and avoided discussing controversial topics or joining certain organizations
• The entertainment industry, particularly Hollywood, experienced a significant impact, with the creation of blacklists that prevented suspected communists from working in the field
• McCarthyism influenced political discourse, with politicians and candidates often using anti-communist rhetoric to gain support and discredit opponents

Cultural and Societal Consequences

• The Second Red Scare and McCarthyism contributed to a conformist culture in the 1950s, as people sought to avoid drawing attention to themselves or being labeled as subversive
  • This conformity was reflected in popular culture, such as television shows like "Leave It to Beaver" and "Father Knows Best," which depicted idealized, homogeneous American families
• The effects of McCarthyism extended to academia, where professors and students were scrutinized for their political beliefs, leading to a chilling effect on intellectual freedom
  • Some universities required faculty members to sign loyalty oaths, and professors who refused or were suspected of communist sympathies faced dismissal
• The fear and suspicion generated by McCarthyism also had a lasting impact on American political culture, contributing to a climate of distrust and paranoia that persisted long after the Second Red Scare ended

Response to Communist Infiltration

Government Actions and Legislation

• The U.S. government responded to the perceived communist threat through various means, including legislation, investigations, and loyalty programs
  • The McCarran Internal Security Act of 1950 required communist organizations to register with the government and allowed for the detention of potential subversives during national emergencies
  • The Subversive Activities Control Board was established to investigate and monitor suspected communist activities
• President Truman's Executive Order 9835 in 1947 initiated a federal employee loyalty program, which led to the investigation and dismissal of numerous government workers
  • The loyalty program required federal employees to undergo background checks and answer questions about their political affiliations and associations
• The Smith Act of 1940, which prohibited advocating the overthrow of the government, was used to prosecute communist party leaders during the Second Red Scare

Public Reaction and Opposition

• The public's response to the Second Red Scare was mixed, with some embracing the anti-communist fervor and others opposing the tactics used by McCarthy and others
• Some individuals and organizations, such as Edward R. Murrow and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), spoke out against McCarthy's methods and the infringement on civil liberties
  • Murrow, a prominent journalist, used his television program "See It Now" to criticize McCarthy's tactics and the climate of fear created by the Second Red Scare
• The Second Red Scare and McCarthyism eventually lost public support as the tactics used became more extreme and evidence of widespread communist infiltration remained lacking
• The decline of McCarthyism was marked by the Senate's censure of McCarthy in 1954 and a growing public awareness of the excesses and abuses of the period
  • The censure vote, which passed 67-22, was a formal condemnation of McCarthy's conduct and a significant blow to his credibility and influence