The New Deal and the Great Depression

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 75 views

The Red Scare and the Conservative Backlash of the 1950s

During the 1950s, conservatives in the United States used various fears to attack anyone who advocated change or reform. This period, often referred to as the Red Scare, was marked by a heightened sense of paranoia and a fear of communism. In this article, we will explore the different fears that conservatives used to justify their opposition to reform and change.

A Second New Deal: The Fear of Socialism

One of the primary fears that conservatives used to attack reformers was the fear of a second New Deal. The New Deal, implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s, was a series of programs and policies aimed at alleviating the suffering of those affected by the Great Depression. However, conservatives saw the New Deal as a threat to individual freedom and the free market. They feared that a second New Deal would lead to an even greater expansion of government power and a further erosion of individual liberties.

Conservatives used this fear to attack anyone who advocated for social welfare programs, labor unions, or other forms of government intervention in the economy. They argued that these programs would lead to a socialist society, where the government controlled the means of production and the people were forced to live in a state of dependency on the government. This fear was used to justify opposition to reformers who advocated for policies such as universal healthcare, a higher minimum wage, and greater protections for workers.

A Renewal of Nazism: The Fear of Fascism

Another fear that conservatives used to attack reformers was the fear of a renewal of Nazism. The rise of fascist regimes in Europe during the 1930s had created a sense of unease and fear among Americans. Conservatives used this fear to attack anyone who advocated for change or reform, arguing that these individuals were somehow sympathetic to fascist ideologies.

This fear was used to justify opposition to reformers who advocated for policies such as social justice, civil rights, or greater government regulation of the economy. Conservatives argued that these policies would lead to a breakdown in social order and a rise in fascist or totalitarian tendencies. This fear was used to justify the use of McCarthyism, a period of intense anti-communist hysteria that led to the blacklisting of thousands of Americans and the destruction of their careers.

Economic Decline: The Fear of Economic Instability

Conservatives also used the fear of economic decline to attack reformers. They argued that policies such as social welfare programs, labor unions, and government regulation of the economy would lead to economic instability and a decline in economic growth. This fear was used to justify opposition to reformers who advocated for policies such as a higher minimum wage, greater protections for workers, and greater government regulation of the economy.

However, this fear was often used as a pretext to justify opposition to reformers, rather than a genuine concern for the economy. Many of the policies that conservatives opposed were actually designed to promote economic growth and stability, such as the creation of jobs and the protection of workers' rights.

Communist Subversion: The Fear of Communism

Finally, conservatives used the fear of communist subversion to attack reformers. They argued that anyone who advocated for change or reform was somehow sympathetic to communist ideologies and was working to undermine American values and institutions. This fear was used to justify the use of McCarthyism, a period of intense anti-communist hysteria that led to the blacklisting of thousands of Americans and the destruction of their careers.

However, this fear was often used as a pretext to justify opposition to reformers, rather than a genuine concern for national security. Many of the policies that conservatives opposed were actually designed to promote national security and stability, such as the creation of jobs and the protection of workers' rights.

The Legacy of the Red Scare

The Red Scare of the 1950s had a lasting impact on American politics and society. It led to the rise of McCarthyism, a period of intense anti-communist hysteria that led to the blacklisting of thousands of Americans and the destruction of their careers. It also led to the suppression of dissent and the silencing of reformers who advocated for change or reform.

However, the Red Scare also had a profound impact on American culture and society. It led to a renewed emphasis on patriotism and national security, and a greater sense of fear and paranoia among Americans. It also led to the rise of the Cold War, a period of intense ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Red Scare of the 1950s was a period of intense fear and paranoia among Americans. Conservatives used various fears to attack reformers, including the fear of a second New Deal, a renewal of Nazism, economic decline, and communist subversion. These fears were used to justify opposition to reformers who advocated for policies such as social welfare programs, labor unions, and government regulation of the economy.

References

The New Deal: A History by Michael Hiltzik
The Red Scare: A History by Ellen Schrecker
The Cold War: A History by John Lewis Gaddis
The Rise of McCarthyism by David M. Oshinsky

Further Reading

The New Deal and the Great Depression by Robert S. McElvaine
The Red Scare and the Rise of McCarthyism by Ellen Schrecker
The Cold War and American Society by John Lewis Gaddis
The Impact of the Red Scare on American Culture by David M. Oshinsky
The Red Scare: A Q&A

The Red Scare of the 1950s was a period of intense fear and paranoia among Americans. Conservatives used various fears to attack reformers, including the fear of a second New Deal, a renewal of Nazism, economic decline, and communist subversion. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the Red Scare.

Q: What was the Red Scare?

A: The Red Scare was a period of intense fear and paranoia among Americans in the 1950s. It was characterized by a heightened sense of anxiety and a fear of communism, which was seen as a threat to American values and institutions.

Q: What were the causes of the Red Scare?

A: The causes of the Red Scare were complex and multifaceted. Some of the key factors that contributed to the Red Scare include:

The rise of communism in the Soviet Union and the spread of communist ideology around the world
The fear of a second New Deal, which was seen as a threat to individual freedom and the free market
The fear of a renewal of Nazism, which was seen as a threat to American values and institutions
Economic decline, which was seen as a threat to American prosperity and stability
The fear of communist subversion, which was seen as a threat to national security and stability

Q: Who were the main figures involved in the Red Scare?

A: Some of the main figures involved in the Red Scare include:

Senator Joseph McCarthy, who was a leading figure in the anti-communist movement and was responsible for the blacklisting of thousands of Americans
President Dwight Eisenhower, who was a strong supporter of the anti-communist movement and was instrumental in the development of the Cold War
J. Edgar Hoover, who was the director of the FBI and was responsible for the investigation and prosecution of suspected communists
Senator Richard Nixon, who was a strong supporter of the anti-communist movement and was instrumental in the development of the Red Scare

Q: What were the effects of the Red Scare?

A: The effects of the Red Scare were far-reaching and had a profound impact on American society and culture. Some of the key effects of the Red Scare include:

The blacklisting of thousands of Americans, including actors, writers, and artists who were suspected of being communists
The destruction of careers and reputations of those who were accused of being communists
The suppression of dissent and the silencing of reformers who advocated for change or reform
The rise of McCarthyism, which was a period of intense anti-communist hysteria that led to the blacklisting of thousands of Americans
The development of the Cold War, which was a period of intense ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union

Q: What were some of the notable cases of the Red Scare?

A: Some of the notable cases of the Red Scare include:

The case of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were accused of spying for the Soviet Union and were executed in 1953
The case of Alger Hiss, who was accused of being a communist and was convicted of perjury in 1950
The case of Julius Klausner, who was accused of being a communist and was convicted of espionage in 1951
The case of the Hollywood Ten, who were a group of actors and writers who were accused of being communists and were blacklisted in 1947

Q: What were some of the notable figures who were affected by the Red Scare?

A: Some of the notable figures who were affected by the Red Scare include:

Charlie Chaplin, who was accused of being a communist and was blacklisted in 1952
Orson Welles, who was accused of being a communist and was blacklisted in 1947
Langston Hughes, who was accused of being a communist and was blacklisted in 1953
W.E.B. Du Bois, who was accused of being a communist and was blacklisted in 1951

Q: What were some of the notable books and films that dealt with the Red Scare?

A: Some of the notable books and films that dealt with the Red Scare include:

The Crucible by Arthur Miller, which was a play that dealt with the Salem witch trials and was seen as a metaphor for the Red Scare
The Red Scare by Ellen Schrecker, which was a book that dealt with the history of the Red Scare
The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon, which was a novel that dealt with the theme of brainwashing and was seen as a commentary on the Red Scare
The Front by Woody Allen, which was a film that dealt with the theme of blacklisting and was seen as a commentary on the Red Scare

Q: What were some of the notable events that dealt with the Red Scare?

A: Some of the notable events that dealt with the Red Scare include:

The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings, which were a series of hearings that were held in the 1940s and 1950s to investigate suspected communists
The Smith Act trials, which were a series of trials that were held in the 1940s and 1950s to prosecute suspected communists
The Rosenbergs' execution, which was a highly publicized event that took place in 1953
The McCarthy hearings, which were a series of hearings that were held in the 1950s to investigate suspected communists

Q: What were some of the notable figures who opposed the Red Scare?

A: Some of the notable figures who opposed the Red Scare include:

Senator Wayne Morse, who was a strong opponent of the Red Scare and was instrumental in the development of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Senator Jacob Javits, who was a strong opponent of the Red Scare and was instrumental in the development of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Martin Luther King Jr., who was a strong opponent of the Red Scare and was instrumental in the development of the Civil Rights Movement
Langston Hughes, who was a strong opponent of the Red Scare and was instrumental in the development of the Harlem Renaissance

Q: What were some of the notable organizations that opposed the Red Scare?

A: Some of the notable organizations that opposed the Red Scare include:

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which was a organization that was dedicated to protecting the civil liberties of Americans and was instrumental in the development of the Civil Rights Movement
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which was a organization that was dedicated to protecting the civil rights of African Americans and was instrumental in the development of the Civil Rights Movement
The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), which was a organization that was dedicated to protecting the civil rights of African Americans and was instrumental in the development of the Civil Rights Movement
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which was a organization that was dedicated to protecting the civil rights of African Americans and was instrumental in the development of the Civil Rights Movement