Name:

Period:

Our tragedy today is a general

and universal physical fear so long
sustained by now that we can even
bear it. There are no longer problems
of the spirit. There is only one
question: When will I be blown up?
- William Faulkner
Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech (1950)

How is Faulkner describing the era? What is the fear he is discussing?

Video Questions

1. What were the Soviets afraid of after WWII and how did they plan to solve the problem?

2. If communism were to spread widely, how would U.S. global trade be affected?

3. What did President Truman mean when he pledged to support freedom-loving peoples
against communist threats?

4. What foreign policy is the more effective way to help countries in need and to prevent the
spread of communism, the Marshall Plan or the Truman Doctrine? Why?

5. What were some of the pros and cons of anti-communist domestic policy during the Cold
War?
Name:
Period:

McCarthyism Through the Years

Description Questions
House of -What was HUACs mission/purpose?
Un-American
Activities
Committee -Who is Alger Hiss?
(HUAC)

President Harry -What was the executive action designed to do?

S. Trumans
Executive Order
9835 -What did J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI do to enforce
the order?

Joseph -What was the issue that he primarily focused on in

McCarthy Congress?

-How did he criticize the state department?

Hollywood -Who were the Hollywood Ten?

Blacklisting

-How do you think the victims of McCarthyism felt

about the government questioning their loyalty to the
United States?

-Do you think something similar can happen nowa-

days? Why or why not?
Name:
Period:

McCarthyism Through the Years (contd)

Draw your own cartoon representation of McCarthyism!

1. What led to the downfall of McCarthyism?

2. Were the domestic anti-communist policies during McCarthyism justified? Why or why
not?

3. Fill out the timeline on the next page.

 TIMELINE: A LOOK BACK AT MCCARTHYISM
1954
April 22

1938 1951 Aug. 24

May 26
1945 March 29
Jan. 3

1935 1955
1952
June 27
1940
June 28

1950
1947 Jan. 25
March 12

Feb. 9
Nov. 25

March 1

Sept. 23