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McCarthy announced he had a list of 57 State Department employees who were communists. After 4 years of being unable to prove his claims, the Senate condemned him for "conduct unbecoming a member".
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Truman ordered the investigation of government workers to determine their loyalty.
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The Soviet Union had successfully tested a atomic bomb.
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Hoover helps obtain evidence of 12 prominent leaders who are part of the American Communist Party. They had planned to overthrow the American government.
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An American B-29 aircraft had detected radioactivity in the North Pacific.
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Mao Zedong led forces and fought to overthrow the leader of China, Chiang Kai-Shek. Zedong took over and set up the Peoples Republic Of China (communist party).
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Investigated communist activity. Targeted actors, directors, and filmakers because movies were so influential. Contributed to the fear of communists.
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After the US sent troops to fight in the Korean War against communist North Korea, the advances of communism around the world convinced there was real danger of communists taking over the US.
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The Supreme Court ruled that the free-speech rights of accused Communists could be restricted because their actions presented a clear and present danger to the government.
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Ethel and Julius Rosenburg were convicted and hung for selling nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union. Made many Americans wonder if other Soviet spies were posing as ordinary citizens.
