The Cold War created a large amount of tension not just between the United States and the Soviet Union but also within the country itself. The second wave of the Red Scare was a direct result of the Cold War and changed the overall moral of the country for a period of time. There were many cases that came as a direct result of the widespread panic and anxiety over the infiltration of Communist influence into society. Together, The Smith Act, Dennis versus U.S. and the HUAC hearings of the members of the entertainment industry embittered relations between social parties in the United States.
The United States took many courses of action to prevent Communist influence from penetrating the country. Though many of these measures may seem extreme …show more content…
Dennis versus the United States exemplifies this assertion. Dennis versus U.S. is a case in which the constitutionality of the Smith Act was upheld. President Truman felt it necessary to prove his tough demeanor by approving the prosecution of a group of high status Communist Party officials. Truman did this on the basis of the Smith Act. (fn, pg 774). The case of Dennis versus U.S. specifically looks at this group of high-ranking Communist officials including Eugene Dennis, the general secretary. (fn, website). The group was under prosecution of violating the Smith Act. Similar to the HUAC cases, the court ruled in favor of upholding the convictions. This ruling essentially used the Smith Act to effectively deny the right of the First Amendment to those being persecuted. (fn, website). At the time, this ruling was seen as protecting the country rather than being unconstitutional. The widespread concern of Communist infiltration in the country caused the country to react in ways that it may not have …show more content…
Various aspects of the Cold War escalated anxieties not only overseas but also on the home front. The United States’ building fear of Communist infiltration within the country created tension between suspected Communists and the rest of the population. Actions were taken against alleged members of the Communist Party that prevented them from being functioning members of society. Blacklisted members of the entertainment industry lost employment opportunities whereas the Smith Act withheld basic constitutional rights as seen in Dennis versus the United States. The Red Scare created social shockwaves that changed the social landscape of the country for the time
The United States took many courses of action to prevent Communist influence from penetrating the country. Though many of these measures may seem extreme …show more content…
Dennis versus the United States exemplifies this assertion. Dennis versus U.S. is a case in which the constitutionality of the Smith Act was upheld. President Truman felt it necessary to prove his tough demeanor by approving the prosecution of a group of high status Communist Party officials. Truman did this on the basis of the Smith Act. (fn, pg 774). The case of Dennis versus U.S. specifically looks at this group of high-ranking Communist officials including Eugene Dennis, the general secretary. (fn, website). The group was under prosecution of violating the Smith Act. Similar to the HUAC cases, the court ruled in favor of upholding the convictions. This ruling essentially used the Smith Act to effectively deny the right of the First Amendment to those being persecuted. (fn, website). At the time, this ruling was seen as protecting the country rather than being unconstitutional. The widespread concern of Communist infiltration in the country caused the country to react in ways that it may not have …show more content…
Various aspects of the Cold War escalated anxieties not only overseas but also on the home front. The United States’ building fear of Communist infiltration within the country created tension between suspected Communists and the rest of the population. Actions were taken against alleged members of the Communist Party that prevented them from being functioning members of society. Blacklisted members of the entertainment industry lost employment opportunities whereas the Smith Act withheld basic constitutional rights as seen in Dennis versus the United States. The Red Scare created social shockwaves that changed the social landscape of the country for the time