Lesson 9.02 Communism and the Red Scare

• Introduction
• Learn
• Try It
• Task

Introduction

Central Question: Did the fear of communism compromise the liberty and freedom of the American people?

"Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?"

Such questions were routinely posed during the early years of the Cold War when Americans feared the possibility of Soviet global domination. In such an atmosphere, a Second Red Scareintense fear of Communism that swept the United States between 1947 and 1954 emerged as people became suspicious of their friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Congressional hearings to root out potential subversives were commonplace. Hollywood celebrities, government officials, and even members of the U.S. military succumbed to questioning regarding their loyalty to the United States. Names were named and countless Americans were arrested and convicted of treasonous acts against the government. One thing was sure, it was dangerous to be different. Patriotism and conformity were a must.

Poster Citation:

Anticommunist Literature, 1950s. This poster is in the public domain, courtesy of Wiki Commons.