HUAC
Cold War inquisitors
HUAC, the House Un-American Activities Committee, was a congressional committee that investigated suspected communist activity in the United States from 1938 to 1975.
It became notorious for its aggressive tactics during the McCarthy era, particularly its Hollywood hearings that led to the blacklisting of writers, actors, and directors: He was called before HUAC and asked to name names.
Record of prohibited entities
- Red ScareAnti-communist hysteria period
- loyalty oathSworn commitment to faithfulness
- informerOne who reveals secrets
- denunciationFormal public accusation
allegiance · purge · accusation · fellow traveler · front organization · subversion · disloyalty · espionage
Record of prohibited entities
- screenwriterAuthor of film scripts
- directorOne who leads
- studioCreative professional's workspace
- motion pictureFilmed visual narrative
Screen Actors Guild · entertainment industry · Walt Disney · talent · actor · producer · Writers Guild · friendly witness
U.S. lawmaking body
- subpoenaWrit requiring testimony
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
- investigationFormal examination of facts
witness · inquiry · oversight · chairperson · sessions · contempt · perjury · testify
Persecuting supposed wrongdoers
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- ostracismBanishment from a group
- inquisitionSustained, probing investigation
vilification · smear · defamation · stigmatization · exile · suicide · deportation · unemployment
Constitutional free expression guarantee
- civil libertiesRights limiting government power
- Fifth AmendmentProtection against compelled testimony
- ACLUAdvocacy group for constitutional protections
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
constitutional rights · free speech · due process · legal defense · appeal · acquittal
blacklist
Record of prohibited entities
- Red ScareAnti-communist hysteria period
- loyalty oathSworn commitment to faithfulness
- informerOne who reveals secrets
denunciation · allegiance · purge · accusation · fellow traveler · front organization · subversion · disloyalty · espionage · infiltration
blacklist
Record of prohibited entities
- screenwriterAuthor of film scripts
- directorOne who leads
- studioCreative professional's workspace
motion picture · Screen Actors Guild · entertainment industry · Walt Disney · talent · actor · producer · Writers Guild · friendly witness · clearance
Congress
U.S. lawmaking body
investigation · witness · inquiry · oversight · chairperson · sessions · contempt · perjury · testify · sworn statement
witch hunt
Persecuting supposed wrongdoers
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- ostracismBanishment from a group
inquisition · vilification · smear · defamation · stigmatization · exile · suicide · deportation · unemployment · shunning
First Amendment
Constitutional free expression guarantee
- civil libertiesRights limiting government power
- Fifth AmendmentProtection against compelled testimony
- ACLUAdvocacy group for constitutional protections
protest · constitutional rights · free speech · due process · legal defense · appeal · acquittal
- 1950s AmericaEisenhower, McCarthy, McCarthyism, suburbs, Korean War
- Red ScareMcCarthyism, blacklist, loyalty oaths, Joe McCarthy, witch hunts
- Truman EraTruman, Truman Doctrine, Fair Deal, buck stops here, whistle-stop tour
- Cold War lawsMcCarthy hearings, blacklisting, blacklists, loyalty oaths, security clearances
- Cold War Lawsedition laws, loyalty oaths, McCarthyism, blacklists, CIA
- Cold WarBerlin Wall, Iron Curtain, arms race, Warsaw Pact, Cuban Missile Crisis
HUACACLU
Advocacy group for constitutional protections
Bill of Rights · American Civil Liberties Union · First Amendment · Fifth Amendment · due process
HUACpublic defender
Attorney representing those unable to afford one
federal court · Supreme Court · defense counsel · judiciary · court of law