AP US History Flashcards: The Red Scare

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on The Red Scare, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP US History.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What was the significance of the Army-McCarthy hearings?

Answer: Exposed McCarthy's tactics and led to his censure. Public televised hearings revealed McCarthy's bullying tactics to millions.

Flashcard 2: What was the Red Scare?

Answer: A period of intense fear of communism in the U.S. Triggered by fear of communist revolution spreading from Russia.

Flashcard 3: What was the significance of the Loyalty Review Boards?

Answer: Reviewed and dismissed federal employees for disloyalty. Investigated federal workers' backgrounds and political associations for loyalty.

Flashcard 4: Identify a consequence of the Red Scare on American politics.

Answer: Increased polarization and suspicion in politics. Created lasting divisions between liberals and conservatives in politics.

Flashcard 5: What was the Loyalty Program initiated by President Truman?

Answer: A program to ensure federal employees were not communists. Background checks aimed to remove communist sympathizers from government.

Flashcard 6: Identify the main accusation against the Hollywood Ten.

Answer: Contempt of Congress for refusing to testify. Refused to name names or discuss political beliefs to HUAC.

Flashcard 7: Who was Alger Hiss?

Answer: A U.S. State Department official accused of espionage. Convicted of perjury in connection with Soviet espionage allegations.

Flashcard 8: Identify the primary period of the Second Red Scare.

Answer: Late 1940s to 1950s. During the Cold War era, peaking with McCarthy's influence.

Flashcard 9: What was the Hollywood Ten?

Answer: A group of screenwriters and directors blacklisted for refusing HUAC testimony. Refused to cooperate with HUAC investigations of communist influence.

Flashcard 10: What was the role of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during the Red Scare?

Answer: Conduct investigations into communist activities. Under J. Edgar Hoover, monitored suspected communist sympathizers.

Flashcard 11: What was the Loyalty Program initiated by President Truman?

Answer: A program to ensure federal employees were not communists. Background checks aimed to remove communist sympathizers from government.

Flashcard 12: What was the impact of McCarthyism on the U.S. government?

Answer: Led to purges of alleged communists from government jobs. Thousands of federal employees fired for alleged communist sympathies.

Flashcard 13: What was the Red Channels publication?

Answer: A blacklist of alleged communist sympathizers in entertainment. Listed names of suspected communists in radio, TV, and film.

Flashcard 14: Identify the primary period of the First Red Scare.

Answer: 1917 to 1920. Followed immediately after the Russian Revolution and WWI.

Flashcard 15: What was the significance of the Army-McCarthy hearings?

Answer: Exposed McCarthy's tactics and led to his censure. Public televised hearings revealed McCarthy's bullying tactics to millions.

Flashcard 16: What was the impact of the Red Scare on media?

Answer: Censorship and self-censorship to avoid communist associations. Fear of being labeled communist led to widespread self-censorship.

Flashcard 17: Identify a notable figure blacklisted during the Red Scare.

Answer: Charlie Chaplin. Famous actor-director exiled due to suspected leftist sympathies.

Flashcard 18: What was the Red Channels publication?

Answer: A blacklist of alleged communist sympathizers in entertainment. Listed names of suspected communists in radio, TV, and film.

Flashcard 19: Identify a major cultural impact of the Red Scare.

Answer: Censorship and blacklisting in the entertainment industry. Many artists and writers lost careers due to political associations.

Flashcard 20: What was the purpose of the Internal Security Act of 1950?

Answer: Required communist organizations to register with the government. Also known as McCarran Act, enhanced surveillance of subversives.

Flashcard 21: What was the significance of the Tydings Committee?

Answer: Investigated McCarthy's claims of communism in the State Department. Found McCarthy's charges were largely unfounded and reckless.

Flashcard 22: Identify the main accusation against the Hollywood Ten.

Answer: Contempt of Congress for refusing to testify. Refused to name names or discuss political beliefs to HUAC.

Flashcard 23: Identify one major impact of McCarthyism on American society.

Answer: Increased fear and paranoia about communism. Created widespread suspicion and damaged many innocent careers.

Flashcard 24: Identify the significance of Edward R. Murrow's broadcast against McCarthy.

Answer: Challenged McCarthy's tactics and reduced his influence. CBS journalist's criticism exposed McCarthy's reckless accusation methods.

Flashcard 25: Identify a notable figure blacklisted during the Red Scare.

Answer: Charlie Chaplin. Famous actor-director exiled due to suspected leftist sympathies.

Flashcard 26: Identify the primary period of the Second Red Scare.

Answer: Late 1940s to 1950s. During the Cold War era, peaking with McCarthy's influence.

Flashcard 27: What were loyalty oaths?

Answer: Oaths requiring individuals to swear they were not communists. Required for government jobs to prove anti-communist allegiance.

Flashcard 28: What was the role of J. Edgar Hoover during the Red Scare?

Answer: FBI Director who intensified anti-communist efforts. Expanded FBI surveillance and investigation of suspected communists.

Flashcard 29: What was the role of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during the Red Scare?

Answer: Conduct investigations into communist activities. Under J. Edgar Hoover, monitored suspected communist sympathizers.

Flashcard 30: What was the impact of the Red Scare on media?

Answer: Censorship and self-censorship to avoid communist associations. Fear of being labeled communist led to widespread self-censorship.

Flashcard 31: What was the Hollywood Ten?

Answer: A group of screenwriters and directors blacklisted for refusing HUAC testimony. Refused to cooperate with HUAC investigations of communist influence.

Flashcard 32: Who was Joseph McCarthy?

Answer: A U.S. Senator known for anti-communist activities. Led aggressive investigations claiming communists infiltrated government.

Flashcard 33: Identify the law that banned the Communist Party from holding office.

Answer: The Communist Control Act of 1954. Made Communist Party membership grounds for federal job disqualification.

Flashcard 34: What was the result of the McCarran Act on civil liberties?

Answer: Restricted civil liberties by allowing detention of suspected subversives. Allowed detention camps for suspected subversives during emergencies.

Flashcard 35: What was the impact of McCarthyism on the U.S. government?

Answer: Led to purges of alleged communists from government jobs. Thousands of federal employees fired for alleged communist sympathies.

Flashcard 36: What was the outcome of the First Red Scare?

Answer: Deportation of many immigrants and reduced labor movement influence. Palmer Raids led to mass deportations and suppressed radical movements.

Flashcard 37: What was the Lavender Scare?

Answer: A campaign to remove homosexuals from government positions. Parallel persecution targeting LGBT federal employees as security risks.

Flashcard 38: What was the impact of the Red Scare on immigration policy?

Answer: Stricter immigration laws targeting communists. Enhanced screening and deportation of suspected communist immigrants.

Flashcard 39: What was the result of the McCarran Act on civil liberties?

Answer: Restricted civil liberties by allowing detention of suspected subversives. Allowed detention camps for suspected subversives during emergencies.

Flashcard 40: What was the impact of the Red Scare on academia?

Answer: Increased scrutiny and loyalty oaths for educators. Teachers and professors required to sign anti-communist loyalty oaths.

Flashcard 41: Identify a major cultural impact of the Red Scare.

Answer: Censorship and blacklisting in the entertainment industry. Many artists and writers lost careers due to political associations.

Flashcard 42: What was the outcome of the Rosenberg trial?

Answer: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for espionage. Convicted of passing atomic secrets to Soviet Union in 1953.

Flashcard 43: What was the outcome of the Rosenberg trial?

Answer: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for espionage. Convicted of passing atomic secrets to Soviet Union in 1953.

Flashcard 44: What was the impact of the Red Scare on academia?

Answer: Increased scrutiny and loyalty oaths for educators. Teachers and professors required to sign anti-communist loyalty oaths.

Flashcard 45: Identify one major impact of McCarthyism on American society.

Answer: Increased fear and paranoia about communism. Created widespread suspicion and damaged many innocent careers.

Flashcard 46: What was the role of J. Edgar Hoover during the Red Scare?

Answer: FBI Director who intensified anti-communist efforts. Expanded FBI surveillance and investigation of suspected communists.

Flashcard 47: What was the Taft-Hartley Act?

Answer: An act that restricted the activities and power of labor unions. Required union leaders to swear they weren't communists.

Flashcard 48: What was the significance of the Loyalty Review Boards?

Answer: Reviewed and dismissed federal employees for disloyalty. Investigated federal workers' backgrounds and political associations for loyalty.

Flashcard 49: What was the Smith Act of 1940?

Answer: A law making it illegal to advocate overthrowing the government. Targeted seditious speech and communist party membership.

Flashcard 50: Identify the law that banned the Communist Party from holding office.

Answer: The Communist Control Act of 1954. Made Communist Party membership grounds for federal job disqualification.

Flashcard 51: Who was Joseph McCarthy?

Answer: A U.S. Senator known for anti-communist activities. Led aggressive investigations claiming communists infiltrated government.

Flashcard 52: Identify a consequence of the Red Scare on American politics.

Answer: Increased polarization and suspicion in politics. Created lasting divisions between liberals and conservatives in politics.

Flashcard 53: What was the purpose of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)?

Answer: To investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities. Investigated suspected communist infiltration in government and society.

Flashcard 54: What was the purpose of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)?

Answer: To investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities. Investigated suspected communist infiltration in government and society.

Flashcard 55: Identify the primary period of the First Red Scare.

Answer: 1917 to 1920. Followed immediately after the Russian Revolution and WWI.

Flashcard 56: What was the Taft-Hartley Act?

Answer: An act that restricted the activities and power of labor unions. Required union leaders to swear they weren't communists.

Flashcard 57: What was the impact of the Red Scare on immigration policy?

Answer: Stricter immigration laws targeting communists. Enhanced screening and deportation of suspected communist immigrants.

Flashcard 58: What event sparked the First Red Scare?

Answer: The Russian Revolution of 1917. Americans feared communist revolution would spread to the U.S.

Flashcard 59: Who was Alger Hiss?

Answer: A U.S. State Department official accused of espionage. Convicted of perjury in connection with Soviet espionage allegations.

Flashcard 60: Identify the primary target of the Red Scare.

Answer: Communists and suspected communists. Anyone suspected of communist sympathies faced investigation and persecution.

Flashcard 61: Identify the impact of the Red Scare on civil liberties.

Answer: Erosion of civil liberties due to fear of communism. Fear justified restrictions on free speech and association rights.

Flashcard 62: Identify the primary target of the Red Scare.

Answer: Communists and suspected communists. Anyone suspected of communist sympathies faced investigation and persecution.

Flashcard 63: What was the impact of the Red Scare on labor unions?

Answer: Labor unions faced scrutiny and loss of influence. Anti-communist legislation weakened union political and economic power.

Flashcard 64: What was the Smith Act of 1940?

Answer: A law making it illegal to advocate overthrowing the government. Targeted seditious speech and communist party membership.

Flashcard 65: What was the significance of the Tydings Committee?

Answer: Investigated McCarthy's claims of communism in the State Department. Found McCarthy's charges were largely unfounded and reckless.

Flashcard 66: What was the outcome of the First Red Scare?

Answer: Deportation of many immigrants and reduced labor movement influence. Palmer Raids led to mass deportations and suppressed radical movements.

Flashcard 67: What event sparked the First Red Scare?

Answer: The Russian Revolution of 1917. Americans feared communist revolution would spread to the U.S.

Flashcard 68: What was the Venona Project?

Answer: A secret collaboration to decrypt Soviet communications. Revealed actual Soviet espionage activities in the United States.

Flashcard 69: Identify the impact of the Red Scare on civil liberties.

Answer: Erosion of civil liberties due to fear of communism. Fear justified restrictions on free speech and association rights.

Flashcard 70: What was the Red Scare?

Answer: A period of intense fear of communism in the U.S. Triggered by fear of communist revolution spreading from Russia.

Flashcard 71: What was the impact of the Red Scare on labor unions?

Answer: Labor unions faced scrutiny and loss of influence. Anti-communist legislation weakened union political and economic power.

Flashcard 72: Identify the significance of Edward R. Murrow's broadcast against McCarthy.

Answer: Challenged McCarthy's tactics and reduced his influence. CBS journalist's criticism exposed McCarthy's reckless accusation methods.

Flashcard 73: What was the Venona Project?

Answer: A secret collaboration to decrypt Soviet communications. Revealed actual Soviet espionage activities in the United States.

Flashcard 74: What was McCarthyism?

Answer: A campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. government. Named after Senator McCarthy's tactics of making unsubstantiated accusations.