The Red Scare (College Board AP® US History): Flashcards
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Define Second Red Scare.
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Cards in this collection (14)
Define Second Red Scare.
The Second Red Scare was a post-World War II wave of fear that communists had infiltrated American life and government.
Which international developments fueled the Second Red Scare?
The Soviet Union set up communist governments in Eastern Europe, and Americans feared communism would spread to more nations.
Why did the Alger Hiss case alarm many Americans?
Hiss, a former State Department official, was accused of passing classified documents to Soviet agents, which seemed to prove communists held important government posts.
Define House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).
HUAC was a House committee created in 1938 to investigate citizens accused of links to the Communist Party.
What did Truman's Loyalty Review Board (1947-1951) do?
It examined the backgrounds of more than 3 million federal employees; thousands lost their jobs or resigned.
How did the Taft-Hartley Act (1947) target communism?
It aimed to stop communist influence in labor unions.
In 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed he had a list of communists working in the State Department.
In 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed he had a list of 205 communists working in the State Department.
Why did other politicians fear McCarthy?
They were terrified he would name them, even if they were not on his list.
What led to McCarthy's downfall?
Televised Senate hearings in 1954 on communists in the army exposed his bullying tactics, and the Senate censured him later that year.
Which groups of Americans lost jobs over alleged communist ties?
Government employees, entertainers, scientists, scholars, and teachers lost jobs.
Define Hollywood Ten.
The Hollywood Ten were film producers, directors, and screenwriters who refused to answer HUAC's questions; they were jailed for contempt of Congress and blacklisted.
What choice did people questioned by HUAC face?
Those who cooperated often accused friends and coworkers, while those who refused risked jail and the blacklist.
Why were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed in 1953?
They were executed for giving the Soviet Union US military secrets about building the atomic bomb.
True or False?
The Second Red Scare was the first wave of anti-communist fear in the United States.
False.
The Second Red Scare continued the Red Scare that began during the Russian Revolution in 1917, when Americans feared labor leaders might overthrow the US federal government.
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