Second Red Scare
Definition
The Second Red Scare (1947-1957) was a period of intense anti-communist suspicion and fear in the United States, marked by investigations into suspected communist infiltration in American institutions.
Analogy
Think of the Second Red Scare as a massive game of "Among Us" where everyone is suspicious that there are impostors (communists) among them. This leads to an atmosphere of distrust and paranoia, with accusations flying left and right.
Related terms
McCarthyism: A political campaign led by Senator Joseph McCarthy during the early 1950s that accused many citizens, including public figures, of being Communists or Communist sympathizers.
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC): A committee of the U.S. House of Representatives that investigated allegations of communist activity in the U.S during the early years of the Cold War (1945-91).
Blacklisting: The practice of denying employment to individuals who were suspected or accused of being communists or sympathizing with communism during the Second Red Scare.
"Second Red Scare" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (12)
What event is often considered the starting point of the Second Red Scare?
What was the name of the Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of loyalty programs for government employees during the Second Red Scare?
Which event triggered the Second Red Scare in the United States?
Which American senator is most closely associated with the Second Red Scare in the United States?
Who was responsible for starting the FBI's COINTELPRO program during the Second Red Scare?
Who led investigations into suspected Communist activities during the Second Red Scare?
Which influential senator led the second Red Scare known as McCarthyism?
Which act, enacted as a result of the second Red Scare, was designed to identify and remove Communist agents within the U.S. government?
Which event directly contributed to growing anti-communist sentiment during the second Red Scare?
How did sentiments during the Second Great Awakening parallel those experienced during the Second Red Scare (1950s)?
How might American society respond differently today had McCarthyism not played such a significant role during the Second Red Scare?
How might U.S.-Soviet relations evolve if there was no Second Red Scare in the post-war period?
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