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Divided Union 1 (Second Red Scare (Rosenberg Case 1950-1953 (Julius and…
Divided Union 1
Second Red Scare
- Many people were against the Red Scare because it threatened their way of life and the 'American Dream'.
- Events out of the US led people to think it could easily come to the US and was spreading very quickly
- Stalin refused to withdraw the RED ARMY from countries the USSR liberated in WW2
In 1949 two events took place:
- China became communist
- Russia developed their first Atom Bomb - Big advantage for them
Rosenberg Case 1950-1953
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were accused of giving atomic secrets to the soviet union. They were eventually executed in 1953
Hiss Case 1950
Alger Hiss was a government official charged with being a communist. He was sent to prison for 5 years.
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McCarthyism:
Rise
He claimed he obtained a list with communist names including 205 in the government. This terrified people who feared the government was infiltrated.
He would appear on TV on the radio. He was very persuasive even if he had little evidence. He played on the American peoples fear.
He claimed that people who did not believe him were being soft on communists
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McCarthy was a very ambitious politician. He was the Chairman of the HUAC and had a lot of power and influence
Fall
- The Tyding's Committee: It was set up to investigate McCarthy's claims + judged his evidence as weak. Mc's evidence was often fakes -- e.g. A picture of senator Tydings with a communist was faked
- Televised evidence of Mc being agressive -- a bully
- He attacked powerful people -- e.g. Accusing General Zwicker a war hero.
- The government intervened to restrict his power in 1953 - Eisenhower moved him to a committee where it was hoped he would have less power.
- At the end of 1954 the senate voted 67:22 stop Mc -- Weak tactics (no evidence) + Mc's attack on the government resulted in the governments actions.
Effects
- People lost their jobs as they were accused of being a communist. It was enough to be fired
- 25 US states introduced Anti - Communist laws
-The Communist party was banned in 1954
- 400 people went to prison
- Many politicians avoided socialist policies for fear of being named 'Un - American'
- America's reputation of being the 'land of freedom' was severely damaged
Civil rights
Brown V topeka
Linda Brown wanted to attend her local school but could not as it was an 'all white school'
Her father and the NAACP took the case to the supreme court; to show that school segregation broke the Plessy v Fergusson law that ruled facilities could be separate but equal
- Effects =
- In 1954 the supreme court ruled that segregation in schools was illegal and all schools should unsegregated
- It showed that the Supreme Court could be helpful for black people to gain rights. It was also used to encourage desegregation in other areas
- However, Southern states simply ignored the ruling and schools remained segregated
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Emmet Till
- A 14 yr old was brutally tortured and murdered while visiting relatives in Mississippi. He was so badly beaten his own mother could not recognise him - she left his coffin open so people could see what her son went through.
- North, white Americans were shocked by the murder.
- The murderers were found 'not guilty' by a white judge. They later admitted to the murder.
- The murder acted as a catalyst to other Black people to join the movement.
Civil Rights act: 1957
In 1957 Eisenhower introduced the first act since 1857. It set up a commission to prosecute anyone who denied American citizens their rights.
This act had little immediate impact but showed the congress was wiling to act.
Revival of the KKK
The day of the SC's decision for Brown v Topeka became known as 'Black Monday'. White southerners were furious and determined to maintain-in segregation.
The WCC was set up. They organised protests and petitions to resist integration. Many joined the KKK
Branches of the KKK reappeared all over the South, membership grew (never reached the numbers of the 1920s)
The klans stereotypical actions were taken - burning crosses, meetings, traditional long white robes and pointy hoods.
Their aim was to attack civil rights protestors - Black or White.
As the civili rights movement continued, the klan grew in numbers and the attacks became more extreme.
They used bombs, shootings, lynchings etc.