Sound Smart: The Red Scare | History

Summary

The Red Scare, a term associated with the fear of communism in the US, had two major periods: post-WWI and post-WWII. The first scare emerged after the Bolshevik Revolution, while the second peaked in the 1950s with Senator McCarthy. Both periods involved 'red baiting', accusing individuals of communism. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was instrumental in identifying suspected communists, leading to the persecution of artists like Paul Robson and Arthur Miller. The second scare also saw the rise of 'red guards', extremist groups that harassed and even murdered political opponents.

Takeaways

• 📅 The term 'Red Scare' refers to two major periods of fear of communism in the United States.
• 🌎 The first Red Scare occurred during World War I, following the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.
• 🛑 The second Red Scare peaked after World War II, with heightened concerns about communism spreading to the U.S.
• 🗣️ Red baiting was a common practice during both scares, where suspected communists were identified and targeted.
• 🏛️ The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) played a significant role in uncovering communists, especially during the 1950s.
• 🏺 Southern politicians often labeled political adversaries as communists, even if they were civil rights organizations like the NAACP.
• 🎭 The second Red Scare had a significant impact on artists and entertainers, many of whom were blacklisted or faced unemployment.
• 👥 Young people formed groups known as 'red guards' to publicly shame, assault, and in some cases, kill political enemies of communism.
• 🚫 The Red Scare led to widespread suppression of free speech and association, particularly in the entertainment industry.
• 📉 Many prominent figures like Paul Robson and Arthur Miller were unable to work due to being labeled as communists or sympathizers.

Q & A

What is the 'Red Scare'?

The 'Red Scare' refers to the widespread fear and persecution of communism in the United States, particularly during the early 20th century.

How many major Red Scares are mentioned in the transcript?

The transcript mentions two major Red Scares.

When did the first Red Scare occur?

The first Red Scare took place during World War I, after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.

What was the main concern during the first Red Scare?

The main concern was the fear of communism spreading and infiltrating the United States.

What was the role of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) during the Red Scare?

The HUAC was a key organization in identifying and uncovering suspected Communists within the U.S. government, particularly during the 1950s.

What is 'red baiting'?

Red baiting is the practice of identifying and attempting to out or uncover suspected Communists within the United States.

How did Southern politicians use the term 'communist' during the Red Scare?

Southern politicians often branded political subversives with whom they disagreed as communists, even if they were not actually Communists.

Which organization was banned as a communistic influence in Alabama and Mississippi?

The NAACP, a civil rights organization, was banned as a communistic influence.

Who were some of the individuals affected by the second Red Scare?

Artists and entertainers such as Paul Robson and Arthur Miller were unable to work because of being branded as suspected Communists or communist sympathizers.

What was the impact of the second Red Scare on young people?

Young people in large numbers joined what became known as the red guards, which were used to publicly humiliate, assault, and in some cases even murder political enemies of the Communist Party.

What was the purpose of the red guards during the Red Scare?

The red guards were largely terroristic organizations used to publicly humiliate, assault, and in some cases even murder political enemies of the Communist Party.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 The Red Scare: Origins and Impact

The paragraph discusses the Red Scare, a period in American history marked by fear of communism. It clarifies that there were two major Red Scares, not just the one associated with Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s. The first occurred during World War I, following the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, and the second peaked after World War II. The fear was that communism would spread and infiltrate the United States. Red baiting, the practice of identifying suspected communists, was common in both periods. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), formed in 1938, played a significant role in the 1950s Red Scare. Southern politicians used accusations of communism to suppress political dissent, such as banning the NAACP as a 'communistic influence.' The second Red Scare particularly affected artists and entertainers, who were blacklisted and faced unemployment due to being labeled as communists or sympathizers. The paragraph also mentions the 'red guards,' groups that used intimidation and violence against perceived enemies of communism.

Keywords

💡Red Scare

The 'Red Scare' refers to a period of intense fear and anxiety in the United States about potential influence and infiltration by communists. It is central to the video's theme as it sets the historical context for the discussion. The script mentions two major Red Scares, one during World War I and the other in the 1950s, both characterized by heightened anti-communist sentiment.

💡Bolshevik Revolution

The 'Bolshevik Revolution' was a pivotal event in Russian history that led to the rise of the Soviet state and the establishment of communism. It is mentioned in the script as the catalyst for the first Red Scare, as the fear of communism spreading was heightened following this revolution.

💡Joseph McCarthy

Joseph McCarthy was a U.S. Senator known for his aggressive anti-communist campaigns during the 1950s. His name is synonymous with the era of the second Red Scare, as the script indicates, and he is often associated with the practice of red-baiting, which was aimed at uncovering communists within the U.S.

💡Red-baiting

Red-baiting is the act of publicly accusing, smearing, or charging someone with being a communist or a sympathizer. It is a key concept in the script, illustrating the tactics used during the Red Scare to identify and expose suspected communists, often leading to their persecution.

💡House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

The 'House Un-American Activities Committee' was a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives that investigated alleged disloyalty and subversive activities. The script highlights its role during the 1950s Red Scare, where it was used as a tool to identify and expose communists, reaching its peak of power and influence during this period.

💡Political Subversion

Political subversion refers to attempts to undermine or overthrow a government. In the script, it is mentioned in the context of how southern politicians used accusations of communism to discredit and suppress political dissent, such as the NAACP, which was banned as a 'communistic influence'.

💡NAACP

The 'National Association for the Advancement of Colored People' (NAACP) is a civil rights organization that was active in fighting racial discrimination. The script points out that during the Red Scare, it was branded as a communist organization and banned, illustrating how the scare was used to suppress civil rights activism.

💡Artists and Entertainers

The script discusses the impact of the second Red Scare on artists and entertainers, such as Paul Robson and Arthur Miller, who faced career ruin due to being labeled as communists or sympathizers. This highlights the broader cultural and social effects of the Red Scare beyond just political figures.

💡Red Guards

The 'Red Guards' were groups that emerged during the cultural revolution in China, but in the context of the script, it seems to refer to groups that acted violently against those suspected of being communists or their sympathizers. This term is used to illustrate the extreme measures taken during the Red Scare.

💡Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism is a form of government that seeks to control all aspects of society. The script mentions the fear of communism spreading and its anti-democratic and totalitarian nature, which was a driving factor behind the Red Scare and the public's anxiety about potential infiltration.

💡Infiltration

Infiltration in the context of the script refers to the fear that communists would secretly enter and undermine U.S. institutions. This concept is integral to understanding the Red Scare as it fueled the paranoia and the subsequent actions taken to root out suspected communists.

Highlights

The Red Scare is often associated with the era of Joseph McCarthy but actually occurred in two major periods.

The first Red Scare happened during World War I, following the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.

The second Red Scare occurred after World War II, with heightened fears of Communism spreading.

Red baiting was a common trait in both Red Scares, involving identifying and attempting to uncover suspected Communists.

The House Un-American Activities Committee was a key player in identifying Communists, especially during the 1950s.

In the South, politicians often labeled political adversaries as Communists, including civil rights organizations like the NAACP.

The second Red Scare had a significant impact on artists and entertainers, leading to job losses for those labeled as Communists.

Notable figures like Paul Robson and Arthur Miller were affected by the Red Scare.

Young people formed groups known as 'red guards' which were used to publicly humiliate and assault political enemies.

The Red Scare had a chilling effect on freedom of expression and association in the United States.

The fear of Communism was used as a tool to suppress dissent and criticism of the government.

The Red Scare led to widespread suspicion and paranoia, affecting many innocent individuals.

The Red Scare illustrates the dangers of mass hysteria and the abuse of power in a democratic society.

The period saw a rise in government surveillance and the infringement of civil liberties.

The Red Scare had long-lasting effects on the political climate and social trust in the United States.

The Red Scare is a historical example of how fear can be manipulated for political purposes.

The aftermath of the Red Scare led to a reevaluation of civil rights and the role of government in citizens' lives.

Transcripts

hi my name is rur Williams I'm a

historian and here are some things that

you need to know in order to sound smart

about the Red

Scare although most people associate the

Red Scare with the era of Joseph

McCarthy from the 1950s in fact there

were two major red scares the first Red

Scare took place during World War I

after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia

during the first world war fear of

Communism reached its height in the

period after the second World War War

Americans were increasingly concerned

that the anti-democratic and

totalitarian nature of Communism would

spread and even infiltrate the United

States one of the common traits shared

by both red scares was red baiting the

practice of identifying and attempting

to out or uncover suspected Communists

within the United States government one

of the chief conduits for faring out

Communists was the house unamerican

Activities Committee although it had

been first formed in 1938 it reached the

height of its power and some would say

its Insidious purpose during the 1950s

Red Scare Southern politicians often

branded political subverses with whom

they disagreed as communist in Alabama

and Mississippi for example the NAACP

which was a civil rights organization

was banned as a communistic influence

the second Red Scare perhaps took its

greatest toll on AR artist and

entertainers people like Paul Robson

Arthur Miller and others who were unable

to work because of being branded as

suspected Communists or communist

sympathizers young people in large

numbers came out and joined what became

known as the red guards these largely

terroristic organizations were used to

publicly humiliate assault and in some

cases even murder political enemies of M

in the Communist Party