Beginning with the forming distrust between the United States and the USSR after World War II, followed by the Soviet Union successfully testing an atomic bomb in 1949, the Chinese Communist Revolution in 1950 that began the formation of a relationship between China and the Soviet Union, and finally the Korean War of 1950 - which prompted then President Truman to send in American troops to help push back communist ideology, so began the great communist fear known as the Red Scare in the United States. The Red Scare was an American fright response to the ideology that Communists had the capability to, and would - invade the country, take over, and permanently change the American way of life. As the Red Scare heightened, government involvement
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One piece of propaganda to consider is a 1948 cartoon by Hanna and Barbara called Make Mine Freedom. This cartoon, begins by stating how America is great for everyone, and explaining what America means to different people. It also states the many various freedoms and rights that people are afforded simply because they are an American. As the cartoon continues, we notice a group of men: a farmer, a laborer, a capitalist, and a politician – basically complaining, and one states: “management is lousing up everyone!” We then see another character appear, promoting “Ism”, which he is basically promoting as a cure all. The character in the cartoon promoting “ism” says that to accept “ism”, the people who want it must make the following pledge: “I hereby turn over to Ism, Incorporated, everything I have, including my freedom, and the freedom of my children, and my children's children, in return for which said Ism promises to take care of me forever”. Although communism is not specifically addressed in this cartoon, considering the year that the cartoon was released and the conflict occurring with the Soviet Union at that time, it is clear what the government was promoting through this propaganda. With it being said that “ism” would require people to give up their freedoms, it promoted fear of communism and what it would equate to if it became a reality in the United States. …show more content…
This fear allowed for many actions by the government, and according to the slide titled Fear of Communist Subversion, “created an atmosphere where people gave up liberties” because the American people were led to believe that the benefit was for the greater good. By enacting congressional acts such as the Internal Security Act of 1950, and the Immigration and Nationality Act, the government authorized actions that were against civil liberties afforded by the United States Constitution and The Bill of Rights. Also falling under the scope of expansion of government reach and power, was the establishment of the House Un-American Activities Committee. According to the lecture slide containing information about the HUAC, the committee was formed to “investigate people suspected of communist ties or sympathies”. The HUAC could question and often target individuals from different groups - due to accusations of spying, violating the right to freedom of speech in doing so – all in the name of fear of communism spreading. While the intention behind the enabled acts and the newly formed committee was to protect the United States from communism, they also ultimately heightened the fear of
One piece of propaganda to consider is a 1948 cartoon by Hanna and Barbara called Make Mine Freedom. This cartoon, begins by stating how America is great for everyone, and explaining what America means to different people. It also states the many various freedoms and rights that people are afforded simply because they are an American. As the cartoon continues, we notice a group of men: a farmer, a laborer, a capitalist, and a politician – basically complaining, and one states: “management is lousing up everyone!” We then see another character appear, promoting “Ism”, which he is basically promoting as a cure all. The character in the cartoon promoting “ism” says that to accept “ism”, the people who want it must make the following pledge: “I hereby turn over to Ism, Incorporated, everything I have, including my freedom, and the freedom of my children, and my children's children, in return for which said Ism promises to take care of me forever”. Although communism is not specifically addressed in this cartoon, considering the year that the cartoon was released and the conflict occurring with the Soviet Union at that time, it is clear what the government was promoting through this propaganda. With it being said that “ism” would require people to give up their freedoms, it promoted fear of communism and what it would equate to if it became a reality in the United States. …show more content…
This fear allowed for many actions by the government, and according to the slide titled Fear of Communist Subversion, “created an atmosphere where people gave up liberties” because the American people were led to believe that the benefit was for the greater good. By enacting congressional acts such as the Internal Security Act of 1950, and the Immigration and Nationality Act, the government authorized actions that were against civil liberties afforded by the United States Constitution and The Bill of Rights. Also falling under the scope of expansion of government reach and power, was the establishment of the House Un-American Activities Committee. According to the lecture slide containing information about the HUAC, the committee was formed to “investigate people suspected of communist ties or sympathies”. The HUAC could question and often target individuals from different groups - due to accusations of spying, violating the right to freedom of speech in doing so – all in the name of fear of communism spreading. While the intention behind the enabled acts and the newly formed committee was to protect the United States from communism, they also ultimately heightened the fear of