The Cold War Creates Communist Hysteria at Home

I. Two Cases of Catching Communists

A. HUAC and the

Hollywood Ten

A. The Hollywood Ten Go to Jail

B. Julius & Ethel Rosenberg Are Executed

II. Basic Facts About the Communist Hysteria

A. The Context: Fear of Communism + Atomic Age = Fear of Spies

B. The Key Law/Rule: Workers can be fired if there are “reasonable grounds” to believe they are disloyal to the US govt.

C. Do you have to be a communist to be penalized?

• No– “Fellow travelers”

(members of communist organizations, friends of communists, ex-communists)

– Those who criticize America -- civil rights leaders, homosexuals, etc.

D. A Range of Penalties: Humiliation Loss of Job Jail Execution

III. The Rise and Fall of Joseph McCarthy

A. McCarthy’s Early Life: From Wisconsin to WWII

B. McCarthy’s Anti-Communism: The Wheeling Speech & Wild Accusations

C. McCarthy’s Downfall: Attacking the Army & Alcoholism