At the end of World War II the United States and Soviet Union became involved in a series of largely politcal and economic clashes known as the Cold War. THe rivalry between the two raised concerns in the United States that Communists an leftist sympatizers inside America might work as SOviet spies and pose a huge threat to the United States security. On March 21, 1947, President Truman issud Executive Order 9835, which was also known as the Loyalty Order, madated that all federal employees to be analyzed to determine whether they were loyal to the government. The House Un-American Activities Committee was formed in 1938 and was used for investigations frequently focused on exposing Communists working inside federal government or other subversive elements working in the Hollywood film industry. The committee gained better momentum following World War II. Thats when the Cold War began. Movie executives created blacklists that turned away suspected radicals from employment. There were other industries that also created their own blacklist to turn away radicals. …show more content…
McCarthy became an anticommunist crusader. McCarthy used intimidation and hearsay to make himself as powerful and feared figure in American politics. J. Edgar Hoover, who was the director of the Federal Bearu of Investigations, helped many of the legislative investigations of the communist activities. J. Edgar Hoover's agency compiled many files on suspected subversives through the use of wiretaps, surveillance and the infiltration of leftist groups. The information that the FBI aquired proved essential in high-profile legal cases. In 1949, they convicted 12 leaders of the American Communist Party on charges that they were going to try and overthrow the