The Red Scare - AP U.S. History

Identify a consequence of the Red Scare on American politics.

Increased polarization and suspicion in politics. Created lasting divisions between liberals and conservatives in politics.
What was the Loyalty Program initiated by President Truman?

A program to ensure federal employees were not communists. Background checks aimed to remove communist sympathizers from government.
Identify the main accusation against the Hollywood Ten.

Contempt of Congress for refusing to testify. Refused to name names or discuss political beliefs to HUAC.
Who was Alger Hiss?

A U.S. State Department official accused of espionage. Convicted of perjury in connection with Soviet espionage allegations.
Identify the primary period of the Second Red Scare.

Late 1940s to 1950s. During the Cold War era, peaking with McCarthy's influence.
What was the Hollywood Ten?

A group of screenwriters and directors blacklisted for refusing HUAC testimony. Refused to cooperate with HUAC investigations of communist influence.
Identify the primary period of the First Red Scare.

1917 to 1920. Followed immediately after the Russian Revolution and WWI.
What was the significance of the Army-McCarthy hearings?

Exposed McCarthy's tactics and led to his censure. Public televised hearings revealed McCarthy's bullying tactics to millions.
What was the Red Channels publication?

A blacklist of alleged communist sympathizers in entertainment. Listed names of suspected communists in radio, TV, and film.
What was the purpose of the Internal Security Act of 1950?

Required communist organizations to register with the government. Also known as McCarran Act, enhanced surveillance of subversives.
What was the significance of the Tydings Committee?

Investigated McCarthy's claims of communism in the State Department. Found McCarthy's charges were largely unfounded and reckless.
Identify a notable figure blacklisted during the Red Scare.

Charlie Chaplin. Famous actor-director exiled due to suspected leftist sympathies.
What were loyalty oaths?

Oaths requiring individuals to swear they were not communists. Required for government jobs to prove anti-communist allegiance.
What was the role of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during the Red Scare?

Conduct investigations into communist activities. Under J. Edgar Hoover, monitored suspected communist sympathizers.
What was the impact of the Red Scare on media?

Censorship and self-censorship to avoid communist associations. Fear of being labeled communist led to widespread self-censorship.
Who was Joseph McCarthy?

A U.S. Senator known for anti-communist activities. Led aggressive investigations claiming communists infiltrated government.
Identify the law that banned the Communist Party from holding office.

The Communist Control Act of 1954. Made Communist Party membership grounds for federal job disqualification.
What was the impact of McCarthyism on the U.S. government?

Led to purges of alleged communists from government jobs. Thousands of federal employees fired for alleged communist sympathies.
What was the outcome of the First Red Scare?

Deportation of many immigrants and reduced labor movement influence. Palmer Raids led to mass deportations and suppressed radical movements.
What was the Lavender Scare?

A campaign to remove homosexuals from government positions. Parallel persecution targeting LGBT federal employees as security risks.
What was the result of the McCarran Act on civil liberties?

Restricted civil liberties by allowing detention of suspected subversives. Allowed detention camps for suspected subversives during emergencies.
Identify a major cultural impact of the Red Scare.

Censorship and blacklisting in the entertainment industry. Many artists and writers lost careers due to political associations.
What was the outcome of the Rosenberg trial?

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for espionage. Convicted of passing atomic secrets to Soviet Union in 1953.
What was the impact of the Red Scare on academia?

Increased scrutiny and loyalty oaths for educators. Teachers and professors required to sign anti-communist loyalty oaths.
Identify one major impact of McCarthyism on American society.

Increased fear and paranoia about communism. Created widespread suspicion and damaged many innocent careers.
What was the role of J. Edgar Hoover during the Red Scare?

FBI Director who intensified anti-communist efforts. Expanded FBI surveillance and investigation of suspected communists.
What was the Taft-Hartley Act?

An act that restricted the activities and power of labor unions. Required union leaders to swear they weren't communists.
What was the significance of the Loyalty Review Boards?

Reviewed and dismissed federal employees for disloyalty. Investigated federal workers' backgrounds and political associations for loyalty.
What was the purpose of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)?

To investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities. Investigated suspected communist infiltration in government and society.
What was the impact of the Red Scare on immigration policy?

Stricter immigration laws targeting communists. Enhanced screening and deportation of suspected communist immigrants.
What event sparked the First Red Scare?

The Russian Revolution of 1917. Americans feared communist revolution would spread to the U.S.
Identify the primary target of the Red Scare.

Communists and suspected communists. Anyone suspected of communist sympathies faced investigation and persecution.
What was the impact of the Red Scare on labor unions?

Labor unions faced scrutiny and loss of influence. Anti-communist legislation weakened union political and economic power.
What was the Smith Act of 1940?

A law making it illegal to advocate overthrowing the government. Targeted seditious speech and communist party membership.
What was the Venona Project?

A secret collaboration to decrypt Soviet communications. Revealed actual Soviet espionage activities in the United States.
Identify the impact of the Red Scare on civil liberties.

Erosion of civil liberties due to fear of communism. Fear justified restrictions on free speech and association rights.
What was the Red Scare?

A period of intense fear of communism in the U.S. Triggered by fear of communist revolution spreading from Russia.
Identify the significance of Edward R. Murrow's broadcast against McCarthy.

Challenged McCarthy's tactics and reduced his influence. CBS journalist's criticism exposed McCarthy's reckless accusation methods.
What was McCarthyism?

A campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. government. Named after Senator McCarthy's tactics of making unsubstantiated accusations.

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