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House Un-American Activities Committee: Purpose Of The HUAC

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The term HUAC stands for House Un-American Activities Committee, and the purpose of the HUAC was to investigate alleged communists. In 1917, Russia became a communist state. It was until after WWII that the Russians imposed communism in many countries. In 1952, Elia Kazan gave the HUAC a list of people who were said to be part of the Communist Party. In 1948, Whittaker Chambers was considered a former member of the Communist Party and had testified before the committee. Soon after, Alger Hiss was convicted and suspected of being a communist. Eventually, the HUAC became unpopular and changed its name in 1969. It was abolished in 1975. During the tenure of the HUAC, more than 3,000 people had testified before it. The HUAC continued to ask questions …show more content…

Those that were investigated and blacklisted were condemned. About 500 people lost their jobs due to being blacklisted by the HUAC. Some people believed that due to the HUAC, their freedoms were being removed, while others thought that the HUAC was important and or necessary. The HUAC was often known as the “ Dies Committee” before 1945 because it was chaired by Martin Dies Junior, But by 1960 the HUAC had lost so much aura. What many people don’t know is that not only was communism and the HUAC a big topic but so were witch hunts and trials, but the HUAC did have trials for both communists and witches. The HUAC began to question many in the Hollywood film industry. The “Hollywood Ten” were among the first to be questioned by the HUAC. They were jailed for refusing to answer the question: “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the communist party of the U.S.?” The HUAC found many of those actors and directors guilty of their involvement with Pro-Russian films. Arthur Miller, author of “The Crucible” was also due to appear in front of the …show more content…

The HUAC committee was controversial, with many critics claiming that it was a tool of the anti-Communist movement. Anyone that was accused of being a communist had to go in front of HUAC. The committee was chaired by Senator Joseph McCarthy from 1953 until he died in 1957. McCarthy's actions led to a backlash against the committee and eventually led to its dissolution in 1975. Although the committee was eventually disbanded, its legacy continues to be felt today. The HUAC became a permanent committee around 1945-1947. It was the first government committee to investigate the entertainment industry. Its actions helped set a precedent for future government investigations of the entertainment industry, creating a culture of fear and mistrust in Hollywood. This legacy can still be seen in the reluctance of some filmmakers to discuss politics or take a stand on controversial issues. In addition, the HUAC's long-lasting impact also includes its role in promoting anti-Communist sentiment in the United States and its effects on the careers of many actors and directors who were blacklisted due to their involvement with Pro-Russian

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During the 1940’s and 1950’s, communism was a popular political movement in the United States. The House Un-American Activities Committee was created to investigate those suspected of having communist ties. Miller refused to name any names so he was given jail time. Kazan decided that his career was the most important thing, so he ratted out 17 CPers. Kazan was said to have ruined their careers and lives.

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For the first half of the 1950s, anti-Communist leaders were very powerful in the United States; however, by 1955 McCarthy was in disgrace, and in 1957 the courts determined that membership in the Communist Party should no longer be a criminal offense in this country. For the first half of the 1950s, anti-Communist leaders were very powerful in the United States; however, by 1955 McCarthy was in disgrace; and in 1957 the courts determined that membership in the Communist Party should no longer be a criminal offense in this

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In 1954, McCarthy turned his attention from the federal government towards exposing the supposed communist infiltration of the armed services. McCarthy launched his “Army-McCarthy Hearings,” but these hearings were different, they were broadcast on national television from April to June. Hearing after hearing, McCarthy invulnerability reputation began to disappear. First, the army services had undermined the Senators credibility by “showing evidence that [McCarthy] had tried to win preferential treatment for his aides when they were drafted” (“Army-McCarthy Hearings”). Then, the public came to notice that McCarthy used aggressive measure to interrogate witnesses, especially when he was interrogating a young Army Lawyer.

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The speech made McCarthy famous and led Congress to begin investigating supposed communists in the government. McCarthy later gave Congress the names of State Department employees he claimed were traitors. Those individuals lost their jobs, even though McCarthy never supplied evidence to prove their guilt” (Joseph McCarthy). McCarthy used a list he made up to gain notoriety with

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In the 1940 's and 1950 's, an anti-Communist movement swept the United States of America. Fueled by the anti-Communist actions of Congress, particularly a Senator from Wisconsin by the name of Joseph McCarthy, the movement escalated and many people lost their jobs as a result of various blacklists. Congressional hearings, both in front of HUAC and McCarthy Senate committee were a study in organized persecution. The actions taken during the "Red Scare" were eventually given the general name McCarthyism. McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence.

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This is the platform he used to get his position as chairman of the Senate committee also known as capital HUAC. People were getting so scared of the House of Representatives on un-American activities committee he ramped up his investigation of possible communist in the US. Influential celebrities were partially targeted for example Mr. Kazan a well-known Hollywood director testify before the capital HUAC on January 4, 1952. He returned three months later, tonight people he believe were communist. How can we believe that any of the people being named as suspected coming this is true.

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During 1930, the Film Industry was seen as a tremendous source of communist activity. This was because of the Great Depression. The Great Depression had led many actors in the Film Industry to Communism. During this time, investigations were made into the film industry relating to communism. These did not fully erupt until the 1930s-1940s.

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During his speech he also provide a list of 205 people who in the Security States are working for the communist party, but still working in State Department. Afterward he launched a crusade against the subversives that eventually help him to gain popularity. By 1952, McCarthy became the Government Committee on Operation of the Senate. Over the next few year, McCarthy used his newfound power to look for the subversives. All of his accusations were based on reckless reasoning.

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Imagine the wicked House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) arrest an innocent man. The HUAC does not arrest the man because he has committed a murder, but because he is a communist. Many communists became victims of HUAC in the Red Scare crisis of the 1950s. These communists made the right decision to speak out for their freedom and against injustice. These communists also spoke out for their freedom of different beliefs.

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People thought that because the Russian czar had been overthrown and executed by strikes that the labor unions of America were being taken over by Communist immigrants with the same goal in mind. Soon, people became obsessed with the Communistic threat coming from Russia following World War II which led to violence and disregard of civil liberties. “The U.S. government, mainly the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) led by Democratic congressman Martin Dies, Jr., had launched an investigation designed to target suspected Communist Party members in all areas of life, including government, educational institutions, labor unions, and the entertainment industry. The repression engendered a climate of fear throughout the country, as people were afraid to speak out as the accused found their names on blacklists, which hindered their employability and ruined many lives.” (Travino, Marcella Bush. "

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Now, the accusations during the McCarthy era were a lot more subtle. Many of the names given to the House of Un-American Activities Committee were the names of well-known celebrities. The HUAC was the head of this McCarthian take over. The HUAC called many prominent “intellectuals” before them for communist questioning. One of the more famous questionings were that of Elia Kazan.

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The main accuser during this time was Joseph McCarthy. The people who were accused were just everyday people. Joseph McCarthy said that he knew people who are members of the communist party working for the government, he may have done this because he didn’t like those people. This scared everyone, primarily because during the years that followed WWII everyone feared communist. So after McCarthy made these statements, it almost made like a ripple effect by having everyday people, being accused of people that “suspected” that they were communists as well.

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In Lameman’s terms, it was a method to expose supposed communists who infiltrated the United States. McCarthy was notorious for making false allegations and accusations to attract attention to his policy, brainwashing Americans into believing their country was being intruded by communists. A large majority of McCarthy’s accusations were backed up by little or next to no evidence, “HUAC’s circuslike investigations and unproved accusations left a trail of shattered reputations and broken lives”. This was seen especially in the case of Air Force Reserve Milo Radulovich, who was discharged from the force due to supposedly having family who were Communist sympathizers. When trialled, a sealed envelope was present with supposed evidence but was never opened.

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Many people were accused of being a communist. These accusations are associated with the term McCarthyism. McCarthyism was carried out under Senator Joseph McCarthy and this campaign took off right after he gave a famous speech about communism. According to an online source, “McCarthy's charges were never documented, but his speech set off a nationwide search for communists and communist sympathizers within the government and in positions of influence throughout American society” (Hastedt). This displays that Senator McCarthy was targeting those with government positions, so he could possibly hold a higher position in the government.

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Imagine the wicked House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) arrest an innocent man. The HUAC does not arrest the man because he has committed a murder, but because he is a communist. This horrendous crime was a routine in the Red Scare crisis of the 1950s. Since this situation involves one's rights to be in threat, the man should speak out for his freedom. Many communists in America made the right decision to speak out for their freedom during the period of the McCarthy “witch” hunts.

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