Monday, December 7, 2015
The Red Scare
The red scare was the fear about the perceived thread of communists in the United States during the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union. The cold war intensified between the 1940's and early 1950's, and was the military and political tension between the western and Eastern bloc after WWII. It was known as the red scare because of the communists tie to the soviet flag which was red. The red scare led to investigations all over the country due to questionability of officials loyalty to the country. In 1947 President Truman issued an executive order, known as the loyalty order, that all officials be investigated. This led to a development of a country that prides itself on political organization, freedom, and personal liberty. The House UnAmerican Activities committee in the house of representatives, focused on exposing communists in the federal government and film industry. In many industries but most prominently the film industry executives made black lists with the names of radicals suspected of being communist . Us senator Joseph R McCarthy became one of the biggest names associated with the anticommunism ideas. He was similar to a dictator, as he used fear and intimidation to get people to follow him. He would attack celebrities, powerful people, and anyone who disagreed with his ideas. His colleagues denounced him in 1954. The FBI and its directer J. Edgar Hoover, who had been a big part in the red scare following WWI, in the investigations, and anticommunist acts. The information the FBI and investigators found helped win anticommunist federal cases such as the conviction in 1949 of 12 leaders of the American Communist party who were suspected of advocating the overthrow of the American government. The same year in 1949 the soviet union successfully tested their nuclear bomb, raising the fear of Americans. The Korean war started the following year in which American troops fought against the communist supported forces. The people of America were terrified of the "Reds" taking over because they saw communist forces all around the world threatening them.
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/red-scare
http://www.ushistory.org/us/47a.asp
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I found your article enjoyable, but I have a few questions. Would you say that government (specifically our government) becomes less democratic during scares like these? McCarthy was denounced by his peers for making unfounded accusations, but he left a legacy of anti-communist sentiments (and a whole school of thought called McCarthyism). Personally I think that government reacts to the fears of the nation (and to a certain extent extrapolates them) as a tool to gain political influence and power.
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http://www.ushistory.org/us/53a.asp
I believe yes, the government during these times become less democratic. This can even be linked to Wilson's Sedition Act and Espionage Act during the war. In times of fear, the government almost is required to silence opposition for fear of disunity against a stronger external force. It's interesting that you pointed out in your article that the red scare led to officials being questioned but somehow this made the country take more pride in personal liberty and freedom. How does interrogating officials make a country more liberal and democratic? I would respectfully disagree.
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