The Early Cold War: 1945-1953

1. The Cold War at Home The EarlyCold War:1945-1953

2. Communism in America The EarlyCold War:1945-1953 • Great Depression • 100,000 in communist party • 20,000 by late 1940’s

3. Growing Fear of Communism Soviet Atomic Weapons • In September 1949 Truman announced that the Soviet Union had detonated an atomic bomb. • This was a shock to the nation. • Truman began to strengthen the nation’s military against a possible Soviet nuclear threat. Communist China • Communists in China had gained nearly full control of the country. • The Nationalist government (supported by U.S.) of Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan • China now controlled by Communist Party under the leadership of Mao Zedong. • Americans worried that China increased the Communist threat to the U.S. The EarlyCold War:1945-1953

4. President Truman felt he had to take action. Created a plan to investigate all federal employees and bar those were found to be disloyal from federal employment. 3 million people investigated 212 found to be disloyal Fighting Communism at Home The EarlyCold War:1945-1953

5. Spies in America? The EarlyCold War:1945-1953 • Spy cases fueled fear of communism • Alger Hiss - accused of being part of 1930’s plot to place Communists inside the government • Couldn’t be charged with spying • Later convicted for lying under oath

6. Spies in America? Klaus Fuchs The EarlyCold War:1945-1953 Ethel and Julius Rosenberg • Manhattan Project scientist who gave atomic bomb information to the Soviets • Accused leading a spy ring • Convicted of conspiracy and executed in 1953

7. Fighting Communism at Home The EarlyCold War:1945-1953 The Smith Act The McCarran Act • Passed in 1940 • Made it a crime to call for the overthrow of the U.S. government or belong to an organization that did so • Upheld by court in 1951 Dennis vs. U.S. • Justified limits on free speech • Communist officials convicted • Passed in 1950 • Required communist organizations to register with the U.S. government • Established a board to investigate Communist involvement • Prevented communists and radicals from entering U.S.

8. House Un-American Activities Committeeinvestigated radical groups in the United States Focused on battling communism Created in the 1930’s Most famous investigation HUAC collected names of 10 Hollywood writers and directors thought to have radical political views The “Hollywood Ten” refused to answer questions and were arrested for contempt 2nd Red Scare The EarlyCold War:1945-1953

9. “Hollywood Ten” The EarlyCold War:1945-1953 Herbert Biberman, Martin Popper, Robert W. Kenny, Albert Maltz, Lester Cole, Dalton Trumbo, John Howard Lawson, Alvah Bessie, Samuel Ornitz, Ring Lardner Jr., Edward Dmytryk, Adrian Scott.

10. “A conspiracy so immense” • McCarthy claimed that there were 205 known Communists working for the U.S. Department of State • Though evidence proved otherwise, his accusations stirred fear in many Americans • Became famous for “fighting” Communism • His tactic of spreading fear and making baseless charges became known as “McCarthyism” The EarlyCold War:1945-1953

11. McCarthy’s Fall The EarlyCold War:1945-1953 • Became even more wild with his charges • Attacked fellow Republicans and the U.S. Army • Public came to view his tactics as unfair.

12. Communism and the threat of the atomic bomb dominated life in the 1950s Fallout (radiation left over from an atomic blast) Americans began to build fallout shelters Life during the Cold War

13. Nuclear Preparedness The EarlyCold War:1945-1953 The “Kidde Kakoon” came equipped for a 3-5 day underground stay, including a chemical toilet, nonelectric clock, canned food and water, protective apparel, and pick-and-shovel tool (“for digging out after the blast”) School children practicing “duck and cover”