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Before the Trial / 13
How Did Americans Feel About Communism in 1948?
The United States fought as allies with the Soviet Union (Russia) in World War II. But soon after the war ended in 1945, Russia and the United States were engaged in a "cold war"—a war without guns.
Americans had had strong anticommunist feelings since the turn of the century. They feared communism, which was the political system in the Soviet Union. They feared that the U.S.S.R. might eventually take over the world.
In 1947 newspapers carried accusations that there were Communists in the government. The FBI investigated these accusations. Security checks were done on government workers. A loyalty oath was required of many public officials: People had to swear that they were loyal to the United States to keep their jobs. Labor unions were charged with having communists in leadership positions.
In 1947 a Congressional committee called the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) held hearings on politically "subversive" people in the theater and movies. Writers,
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