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13 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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1. The Cold War
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The USSR was communist; the USA democratic and capitalist. Each wanted the rest of the world to accept their political system. Their opposition was called the Cold War.
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2. The Cold War and US policy.
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The US feared a communist takeover of Europe. The Marshall Plan gave aid to Europe; the USSR said it was a bribe. The US tried to prevent the USSR getting nuclear power.
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3. The Berlin Crisis.
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A major confrontation between the Allies and the USSR over control of Germany and Berlin. East (communist) and West (democratic) Germany were created and Berlin divided.
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4. USA and cold war involvement in Korea.
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Korea was also occupied by the USA and the USSR. In 1950 the communist North invaded the non-communist South. The USSR supported the North and the US the South.
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5. The Red Scare.
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The US was afraid the Cold War could become a nuclear war with the USSR, which made them very afraid of what communists were doing within the US. This was the Red Scare.
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6. HUAC.
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Many people feared Soviet agents were working inside the US. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated people suspected of being communists. One of HUAC's most famous investiagations was of the 'Hollywood Ten'.
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7. The Hollywood Ten.
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HUAC investigated Hollywood, fearing communists might use the film industry to spread propaganda. Ten Hollywood writers refused to give evidence to HUAC, saying the Constitution gave them a right to free speech. They were sent to prison for their refusal to give evidence.
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8. Alger Hiss.
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Alger Hiss had worked for the UN, and advised President Roosevelt in the 1940s. He was accused of being a communist, and was tried in front of HUAC. During his trial the Soviets tested their first atomic bomb, increasing fears of a nuclear war and a communist spy ring. The evidence against Hiss was complicated and confused. He was found guilty of lying to the court (not spying) and sent to prison for 5 years, but a guilty verdict meant that many people still thought he was a spy.
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9. Senator McCarthy.
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Senator for Wisconsin who said he had a list of communists working in the US State Department. Many newspapers agreed and at one stage he got huge support from the public. He helped fuel the red scare, causing fear and panic by making people believe there was widespread communist activity in the USA, even in important government departments.
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10. The impact of McCarthyism.
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Anti-communist groups hounded suspects out of their jobs and homes and beat them up. Teachers, people working in government and factories were targeted by 'red-baiters'.
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11. The Rosenbergs.
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Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were arrested for passing atomic bomb secrets to the USSR. The evidence was unclear, and very weak against Ethel, but they were convicted and executed.
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12. McCarthy's failure.
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He didn't find any evidence - he faked some - and was denounced as a fraud. The public and media turned against him. He was censured by the Senate for improper conduct.
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13. The McCarran Act.
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This was a law passed by the US Congress which limited the places where communists could be employed and denied them US passports. All communist organisations had to be registered and their members were investigated.
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