Question

1.Why was HUAC created?

2.Which industry did HUAC launch its first major attack against?
3.What well-known senator conducted these communist “witch hunts?” What word do we use today to refer to this era in history?
4.Who were “The Hollywood Ten” and why were they arrested and jailed?
5.Why did McCarthy believe Hollywood might play a big role in a communist uprising in America?
6.In what ways did those who were accused during the McCarthy Era suffer? Why was this unfair?
7.What were some of the ways blacklisted writers got work?
8.Fill in the following quote about the HUAC hearings – “Congressional hearings were in effect, not hearings, but __________________ for crimes that were not really crimes, with ______________________ serving as prosecutor, judge, and jury…”
9.What did it mean to be a “friendly witness” at a HUAC hearing? What happened after they testified?
10.What did “unfriendly witnesses” refuse to do? What happened to them as a result?

Answer 1

1. HUAC (the House Un-American Activities Committee) was created in 1938 as a permanent investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. Its purpose was to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities on the part of private citizens, public employees, and organizations suspected of having Communist ties.

2. HUAC launched its first major attack against the film industry in 1947.

3. Senator Joseph McCarthy conducted these communist “witch hunts”, which are now referred to as the “McCarthy Era”.

4. The Hollywood Ten were a group of writers, directors, and producers who were called before the HUAC and refused to answer questions about their political affiliations or their involvement in the film industry. They were arrested, jailed, and blacklisted in Hollywood.

5. McCarthy believed that a communist uprising in America could be initiated through the influence of Hollywood movies, and that communists could use movies to spread their propaganda and ideas.

6. Those who were accused during the McCarthy Era suffered from public humiliation, job loss, and financial ruin. This was unfair because often times these accusations were made without any basis in fact or evidence.

7. Blacklisted writers got work by using pseudonyms or working through friends or family members who could submit their work without revealing their identity. They also worked in foreign studios or did uncredited work on movie scripts.

8. “Congressional hearings were in effect, not hearings, but show trials for crimes that were not really crimes, with McCarthy serving as prosecutor, judge, and jury…”

9. A “friendly witness” at a HUAC hearing was someone who was willing to testify against their former colleagues and discuss their political views and beliefs. After testifying, these witnesses were often cleared of any wrongdoing and allowed to continue working.

10. “Unfriendly witnesses” refused to answer questions about their political beliefs or involvement in the film industry, and were then blacklisted and unable to work in the industry.