Study GuideU.S. History II–The Rise of the Cold War, 1945–19531.The Cold War at HomeThe Cold War did not just shape how the United States dealt with other countries—it also deeplyaffected lifeinsidethe country. After World War II, the Soviet Union went from being a wartime ally tobeing seen as a dangerous enemy. As tensions increased, many Americans began to fear thatCommunists inside the United Stateswere secretly working to undermine the government.Several events fueled these fears. The Soviet Union took control of Eastern Europe, China became aCommunist nation, and in1949, the USSR successfully tested anatomic bombmuch earlier thanexpected. Together, these developments created widespread anxiety and suspicion. From the late1940s through the 1950s, the country experienced a period of intenseanticommunist hysteria, oftencalled theRed Scare.1.1Loyalty Checks and Internal SecurityIn response to these fears, PresidentHarry Trumantook steps to protect national security. In1947,he issuedExecutive Order 9835, which created theFederal Employee Loyalty Program. Thisprogram required background checks for more thanthree million federal employeesto make surethey were loyal to the United States.Although only a little over200 people were fired, about2,000 resigned, often under pressure. Whatmade the program controversial was how vague the standards were. Someone could be labeled asecurity risk simply for being considered “potentially disloyal.” Groups often targeted includedhomosexuals,alcoholics, and people deeplyin debt, even without proof of Communist ties.States and cities soon followed the federal government’s lead. Many required workers—especiallyteachers—to signloyalty oaths, promising they had never belonged to the Communist Party or anygroup seeking to overthrow the government. When the Supreme Court ruled inTolman v. Underhill(1953)that California could not single out university professors, the state responded by requiringallemployeesto take loyalty oaths.1.2The Internal Security (McCarran) ActFear of Communist infiltration increased even more in1950, when Congress passed theInternalSecurity Act, also known as theMcCarran Act. The law required Communists and Communist-frontorganizations toregister with the attorney general, banned Communists from working indefenseindustries, and allowed the government tointern suspects during national emergencies.Preview Mode
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