The Cold War Communists?

America Under Communism Poster

In 1949, twelve members of the American Communist Party were convicted of acting against the American government. After this newspapers and writers began telling the American people that Communists were everywhere.

Government employees, college professors, and others were asked to take a loyalty oath. Some people lost their jobs because they would not take the oath. In Hollywood, some actors were not allowed to work because they were thought to be Communists.

 

 

Senator Joseph McCarthy became a Communist-hunter. He accused the Democrats of working with Communist countries. McCarthy claimed there were members of the U.S. Communist Party in the State Department. The Senate held hearings. These hearings were shown on television. McCarthy yelled at people and forced many to say things they did not mean. Not one person was ever proven to be a Communist by McCarthy's hearings.

McCarthy even went as far as saying America should have bombed China when the Korean truce was made.

McCarthy also said there were thousands of Communists in the United States Army.

Finally Congress voted to not allow McCarthy to hold any more hearings about Communism. After the hearings ended, the "Hunt for Communists" died down.
Joseph McCarthy

 

 

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