House Un-American Activities Committee

During the 1940s and 1950s the threat of communism within the Hollywood film and entertainment industry was greatly overstated. During the time that the House Un-American Activities Committee was active the U.S population was in the midst of a intense anti-communism movement in response to the Cold War. The HUAC with the support of public opinion was able to question almost any individual without negative backlash. This wild questioning of anyone when linked with the close connections between…

collapse of the Soviet Union on December 26, 1991. The Soviets reacted to the Marshall Plan with the Zhdanov Doctrine, uncovered in October of 1947. The Zhdanov Doctrine guaranteed that the United States was looking for worldwide mastery through American dominion, and in addition the breakdown of vote based system. Then again, as indicated by this Doctrine, the Soviet Union was resolved to disposing of colonialism and the remaining hints of totalitarianism, while fortifying popular government.…

does not protect you from incriminating your friends or co-workers. This exploit was used to find more people to put on trial and further the hearings. Instead of telling the truth and not condemning innocent people of unfounded crimes, “other Americans, fearing that someone would point the finger at them, charged other people with being communists. If you could prove that someone else was a communist, no one would point the accusing finger at you” (McCarthyism in 1950s America). Sadly, it…

to those in the movie industry due to accusations of communist sympathies. The first notable blacklist took place in 1947. Ten writers and directors cited with being in contempt of congress because they refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. These writers and directors would become known as the Hollywood Ten and are remembered for speaking out against the abuses of the Red Scare that took place during the time…

Throughout time, many people have been wrongly accused of committing crimes, or doing something wrong. In the past times of witchcraft and communism, many people were wrongly accused because of others’ beliefs. The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is about how in the 1690’s many people were accused of being possessed. Similarly, in the 1950’s, many people were accused of being communists with the the help of McCarthyism. In both scenarios, many people including Arthur Miller, were wrongly…

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. The youngest of five other siblings, Robinson was raised in poverty by a single mom. He attended John Muir High School and Pasadena Junior College, where he was an extraordinary athlete and played four sports; football, basketball, track, and baseball. He was named the Most Valuable Player in baseball in 1938. Jackie then took his talents to UCLA, where he got accepted there on 4 sports scholarships. His older brother,…

stop the spread of Communism. After the Second World War the United States entered the Cold War against the Soviet Union. The first Red Scare occurred after the end of the First World War and during the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. The reason Americans started to grow fear in communists and anarchists was due to a series of bombings by anarchists. Because of the Red Scare in the 1920s many people that were innocent were arrested because they expressed their views. As well, civil liberties…

country are greatly excited. But this is also not a governmental affair. We can do nothing except for American citizens who happen to be made victims.” This statement, made by President Franklin Roosevelt, helps to illustrate the complexity of the image of Adolf Hitler in the United States during the pre-war years of 1933 to 1938. Hitler was almost universally viewed in a negative light by Americans, but the severity of the negativity and the actions taken because of the negativity differed…

hateful organization for Americans ("Ku Klux Klan."). KKK was found in 1866 (History.com Staff. "Ku Klux Klan."). The first two words, “Ku” and “Klux” derived from Greek word, “kyklos,” and it means circle (History.com Staff. "Ku Klux Klan."). Confederate general Nathan Bedford…

passports, as well as, other privileges like the right to work. Most were left without jobs, while many were sentenced to jail for not having names of other communists to give up as evidence. Some of those well-known artists that were called before the committee were, “Dashiell Hammett, Waldo Salt, Lillian Hellman, Lena Horne, Paul Robeson, Elia Kazan, Arthur Miller, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Charlie Chaplin and Group Theatre members Clifford Odets, Elia…