The Soviet Takeover Of Eastern Europe
At the end of WW2 the Russians liberated countries in Eastern Europe previously controlled by Germany during the war. The idea was the Russians would allow free elections and leave but they didn’t and soon forced Communist governments on this country. American then became terrified that Communism would spread.
Chinese Communists Take Power In China
In 1949 there was a revolution in China resulting in China becoming a Communist country. China was a big country the Americans thought what is going to stop Communism going to America.
The Russians exploded their first Atomic Bomb
Up to this point only America had this technology. “Had America been betrayed by the enemy within? Had Communist Sympathises in America sold atomic secrets to the Russians?”
North Korea Invaded Pro-American South Korea
South Korea believed that if it wasn’t checked by America, Communism would take over the world. America went to war to prevent this from happening.
The Hiss Case
Hiss had worked for President Roosevelt and there had been allegations and evidence made against him for spying for the Communists There was an increased risk of spies in America.
The Rosenburgs
Straight after the Hiss case Julius and his wife Ethel were arrested and charged with conspiring to transmit top secret bomb specifications to the Soviet Union. They were both sentenced to their deaths.
The methods McCarthy used to increase the American fear of Communism was by his Senate Committee hearings which were televised, he used this for his own advantage to portray himself as a crusader fighting communist threats. President Truman disliked McCarthy but was too afraid to stand up to him as he feared of appearing unpatriotic and losing his votes in the next election. It wasn’t just the fear of Communists but McCarthy himself, as people were afraid of standing up to him as he would accuse them of being Communist and would ruin their lives. McCarthy claimed he had a list of 207 known Communists but when investigated the list went down to 57. The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) was set up which investigated Communist involvement in the film industry, education, unions and the government. Ten Hollywood film directors were questioned over whether they were members of the Communist party. They refused to answer questions and were all jailed for a year.
McCarthy had such an impact on the USA as he ruined so many people’s lives as he accused them of being Communist. 9,500 civil servants were dismissed and 15,000 resigned, 600 teachers lost their jobs and many fine actors and scriptwriters were unable to work again. Also anyone who was liberal, a trade unionist, or a civil rights worker who had shown sympathy for the poor was automatically known as a ‘commie’.