Task
Use details from the sources below to support your ideas.
Please remember:
In the 1950s, America was overwhelmed with concerns about the threat of communism abroad and at home. As a result, thousands of Americans became the subject of aggressive investigations by the United States government.
What were the reasons Americans had to fear and "hunt down" Communists within the United States? Were these good reasons? |
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A. |
In April 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were found guilty and sentenced to death for conspiracy to commit espionage, relating to passing information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. The following is an excerpt from Judge Kaufman's statement upon sentencing the Rosenbergs to the electric chair.
"I consider your crime worse than murder…In committing the act of murder, the criminal kills only his victim. The immediate family is brought to grief and when justice is meted out the chapter is closed. But in your case, I believe your conduct in putting into the hands of the Russians the A-bomb years before our best scientists predicted Russia would perfect the bomb has already caused, in my opinion, the Communist aggression in Korea, with the resultant casualties exceeding 50,000 and who knows but that millions more of innocent people may pay the price of your treason. Indeed, by your betrayal you undoubtedly have altered the course of history to the disadvantage of our country.
No one can say that we do not live in a constant state of tension. We have evidence of your treachery all around us every day--for the civilian defense activities throughout the nation are aimed at preparing us for an atom bomb attack... In the light of this, I can only conclude that the defendants entered into this most serious conspiracy against their country with full realization of its implications..." |
B. |
Below is an edited transcript of Paul Robeson's testimony before the House Committee on Un-American Activities on June 12, 1956. Robeson, an African-American All-American football player and recipient of a Phi Beta Kappa key at Rutgers, received a law degree at Columbia. He became an internationally acclaimed concert performer and actor as well as a persuasive political speaker. In 1949, Robeson was the subject of controversy after newspapers reports of public statements that African Americans would not fight in “an imperialist war.” In 1950, his passport was revoked. Several years later, Robeson refused to sign an affidavit stating that he was not a Communist and initiated an unsuccessful lawsuit.
Mr. ARENS: Are you now a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. ROBESON: Oh please, please, please. Mr. SCHERER: Please answer, will you, Mr. Robeson? Mr. ROBESON: What is the Communist Party? What do you mean by that? Mr. SCHERER: I ask that you direct the witness to answer the question. Mr. ROBESON: What do you mean by the Communist Party? As far as I know it is a legal party like the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Do you mean a party of people who have sacrificed for my people, and for all Americans and workers, that they can live in dignity? Do you mean that party? Mr. ARENS: Are you now a member of the Communist Party? Mr. ROBESON: Would you like to come to the ballot box when I vote and take out the ballot and see? Mr. ARENS: Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that the witness be ordered and directed to answer that question.... Mr. ROBESON: I stand upon the Fifth Amendment of the American Constitution. Mr. ARENS: Do you mean you invoke the Fifth Amendment?... MR. ROBESON: I invoke the Fifth Amendment, and so I am answering it, am I not?... Gentlemen, in the first place, wherever I have been in the world, Scandinavia, England, and many places, the first to die in the struggle against Fascism were the Communists and I laid many wreaths upon graves of Communists. It is not criminal, and the Fifth Amendment has nothing to do with criminality. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren, has been very clear on that in many speeches, that the Fifth Amendment does not have anything to do with the inference of criminality. I invoke the Fifth Amendment… I say that I am as patriotic an American as there can be, and you gentlemen belong with the Alien and Sedition Acts, and you are the nonpatriots, and you are the un-Americans, and you ought to be ashamed of yourselves. THE CHAIRMAN: Just a minute, the hearing is now adjourned. Mr. ROBESON: I should think it would be. THE CHAIRMAN: I have endured all of this that I can. Mr. ROBESON: Can I read my statement? THE CHAIRMAN: No, you cannot read it. The meeting is adjourned. Mr. ROBESON: I think it should be, and you should adjourn this forever, that is what I would say. . . . |
E. |
The video below contains excerpts from the documentary The Atomic Cafe. It is a collection of anti-communist propaganda produced by the United States Government.
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G. |
The song below, "I'm No Communist," was written by Scotty Wiseman in 1951. Here it is performed by Carson Robinson.
Lyrics:
We're living in a country that's the finest place of earth But some folks don't appreciate this land that gave them birth I hear that up in Washington they're having an awful fuss 'Cause Communists and spies are making monkeys out of us The bureaus and departments have been busy night and day They're figuring out just how we gave our secrets all away And Congress has appointed a committee so they said To find out who's American and who's a low-down Red. They call them up to Washington to speak for Uncle Sam But when they ask them what they are, they shut up like a clam I wish they'd take and put me on the witness stand today I'd yell so loud old Stalin could hear me all the way CHORUS: I'm no Communist, and I'll you that right now I believe a man should own his own house and car and cow I like this private ownership, and I want to be left alone Let the government run its business and let me run my own Our government is bigger than it ever was today The more they hire to work for it, the more they have to pay Our public servants should be proud and honest you would think Instead of taking bribes and dressing up their wives in mink The taxes keep on going up of that there is no doubt But still they just can't take it in as fast as they dish it out Our national debt is monster size and growin' every day Our children's children, still unborn are gonna have to pay Our dollar used be the soundest money on this earth But now two bucks won't even buy a good old dollar's worth Unless we stop inflation and take care of what we've got The Communists may win the fight and never fire a shot CHORUS |