Glossary
1954 Army-McCarthy hearings
A series of televised Senate hearings in 1954 during which Senator Joseph McCarthy accused the U.S. Army of harboring communists, ultimately leading to his public downfall.
Example:
The televised 1954 Army-McCarthy hearings allowed the American public to witness McCarthy's aggressive and bullying tactics firsthand, which significantly eroded his public support.
Alger Hiss
A former high-ranking State Department official accused of being a Soviet spy by Whittaker Chambers, whose conviction for perjury in 1950 intensified fears of communist infiltration.
Example:
The highly publicized trial of Alger Hiss became a symbol of the domestic threat of communism, convincing many Americans that Soviet spies had indeed penetrated the U.S. government.
Censured
A formal statement of disapproval or condemnation, often issued by a legislative body against one of its members for improper conduct.
Example:
After his controversial behavior during the Army-McCarthy hearings, the Senate voted to censure Senator Joseph McCarthy, effectively ending his political influence.
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
A congressional committee that investigated alleged disloyalty and subversive activities, particularly communist influence, in the United States during the Cold War.
Example:
The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) gained notoriety for its investigations into the Hollywood film industry, leading to the blacklisting of many writers, directors, and actors.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
An American couple convicted and executed in 1953 for conspiring to commit espionage by passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union.
Example:
The execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for espionage remains a contentious event in American history, with ongoing debates about the fairness of their trial and the extent of their guilt.
Loyalty Review Board
Established by President Truman in 1947, this board investigated federal employees to identify and remove those deemed security risks due to suspected communist ties.
Example:
Thousands of government workers faced scrutiny from the Loyalty Review Board, leading to dismissals or resignations even without concrete evidence of disloyalty.
McCarran Internal Security Act (1950)
A controversial federal law passed in 1950 that aimed to combat communist subversion by restricting the rights of communist organizations and authorizing detention camps for subversives.
Example:
Critics argued that the McCarran Internal Security Act (1950) infringed upon civil liberties by requiring communist organizations to register with the government and limiting their members' freedoms.
McCarthyism
The practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence, often used to describe the sensational and unsubstantiated anti-communist campaigns led by Senator Joseph McCarthy.
Example:
The term McCarthyism is now widely used to describe any reckless public accusation of disloyalty or subversion, often without sufficient proof, that damages reputations.
Second Red Scare
A period of intense anti-communist suspicion and fear in the United States during the 1950s, driven by Cold War tensions and concerns about communist infiltration.
Example:
The Second Red Scare led to widespread paranoia, with many Americans fearing that their neighbors or even government officials could be secret communists.
Senator Joseph McCarthy
A Republican senator from Wisconsin who became the most prominent figure of the Second Red Scare, known for making unsubstantiated accusations of communist infiltration in the U.S. government and society.
Example:
Senator Joseph McCarthy rose to national prominence by claiming to have a list of communists working in the State Department, though he never produced credible evidence.