HISTORY 7B Lecture 20: Lecture 20_ McCarthyism - History 7B
Document Summary
Response to hitler, called to build a popular front against fascism. Organized african american workers, farmers, sharecroppers, etc. 2 young african americans accused of rape, all white juries, speedy trials, sentenced to death, appealed. Served long prison sentences even after their accusers recanted -- demonstrated communism"s commitment to civil rights. Smith act: crime to advocate the overthrow of the us government through violence or force, or join a group who did. Public adopted quick reversal of us/soviet relations (alliance to attack) Huac established 1938 --- were originally looking for nazis (communists) Elizabeth bentley (admitted to being a communist) and whittaker chambers (also testified but they didn"t believe him) Both alleged there were a network of people in us government who were spies, Alger hiss: main target, denied being a communist, chambers gave documents to testify otherwise, convicted of perjury. Julius and ethel rosenberg sentenced to death after being accused of passing atomic bomb documents to soviets --- huge backlash.
