The House of Un-American Activities Committee, Hollywood and the Red Scare

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“When a great democracy is destroyed, it will not be because of enemies from without, but rather because of enemies from within.” During the late 1940s and early 1950s, these words of Abraham Lincoln were all on the minds of Americans (McCarthyism). After fighting against Communism for decades, the fear of it taking down the country terrorized people’s thoughts. Even more so, people were extremely frightened of the idea that there could be Communists within the spotlights of American influence that were plotting the destruction of the United States. A fear swept the country for almost a decade, and it transformed every aspect of American culture. This transformation began in the entertainment industry and hit here the hardest. The fear of Communism completely spun the industry upside down and distorted everything that made American showbiz so distinct. Even today, the controversies of the 1940s and 1950s have left an impression on the current entertainment industry. Before the “Red Scare”, the United States was a huge world power and was thriving in every facet possible. Its people could do as they pleased for the most part, and did not have to fear persecution for their beliefs or associations. The entertainment was reaching its prime with celebrities creating the greatest films and writings the country had ever seen (Pearson). This all changed in 1947, when President Harry Truman upset the waters. Earlier in the year, Truman ordered background checks of all the civilians in service. The results that this investigation found was unnerving. Alger Hiss, a high-ranking State Department official, was revealed as a Soviet spy. He was then convicted on espionage charges and served three years in prison. ... ... middle of paper ... ...e Mason University. N.p. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. Buhle, Georgakas, et al. University of Pennsylvania. Encyclopedia of the American Left, 1992. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. Eckstein, Arthur. “The Hollywood Ten in History & Memory.” Film History. 2004. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. “The Hollywood Ten.” University of California Berkley. 15 Oct. 2010. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. Larder, Ring Jr. Interview by Michael Rosen. Archive of American Television. July 1999. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. Lev, Peter. Transforming the Screen: 1950-1959. University of California Press. London, England: Charles Scriber’s Sons, 2003. Print. “McCarthyism.” US History. 2008. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. Pearson, Glenda. “The Red Scare: A Filmography.” The All Powers Project. 5 Mar. 1998. University of Washington Libraries. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. Simkin, John. “Hollywood Ten.” Spartacus Educational. N.p. Web. 16 Jan. 2014.

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