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House Un-American Activities Committee: Purpose Of The HUAC

907 Words4 Pages

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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