In the years following World War II, American paranoia shifted from the Nazis and the Japanese to the communists, especially in the Soviet Union. This paranoia fueled many spy cases; the two most famous cases were those of Alger Hiss and the Rosenbergs. In 1948, a former Communist spy, Whittaker Chambers, accused Alger Hiss of spying on the United States for the Soviet Union. The biggest piece of evidence was microfilm of government documents supposedly found on Hiss’s typewriter. Congressman Richard Nixon gained fame through trying to prosecute Hiss, who was convicted of perjury and sent to jail. Hiss claimed he was innocent, but later evidence showed he was guilty.
The next case began with the explosion of the Soviet Union’s first atomic bomb, three to five years earlier than expected, On September 3, 1949. Klaus Fuchs admitted giving information about the American atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, minor activists in the American Communist Party, were implicated in the case. The Rosenbergs denied the charges and pleaded the 5th amendment, but they were found guilty of espionage. The couple was sentenced to death by electric chair in June 1953, despite heavy public protest.
By Andrew and Bonan
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Very interesting topic, but where's the picture? Also, what happened to Klaus Fuchs after he admitted to giving information to the Soviet Union?
ReplyDeletePictures would have been nice to break up the text. However, the text still went into good detail regarding the case of Alger Hiss.
ReplyDeleteThose darn spies screw up everything don't they?
ReplyDeleteA pretty different topic, but what happened Klaus Fuchs (agrees with Jeannette)?
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting as people can learn about the web of lies during the Cold War and how some of these suspicions went against the constitution.
ReplyDeleteYou should add some pictures to help aid the blog; perhaps pictures of Alger Hiss and the Rosenburgs would be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteDespite what all those ^^^ people said, I think your blog is just fine without pictures. It's brilliant summary and isn't long or boring.
ReplyDeleteThere must have been REALLY intense fear of Communists that the government sentenced the Rosenburgs to death. I don't even think Americans felt at peace with their government after the Rosenburgs were electric chairified.
It's an interesting topic, but it's also scary that just the fear of Communism ruined many people's lives.
ReplyDeleteVery nice; interesting to read. Could go well with a picture, though.
ReplyDeleteThis incident exemplifies the biased nature of the congressmen in those days.
ReplyDeleteVery touching topic! Good details.
Great article. A picture could have helped out a bit, but it was overall really interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteGood job detailing the two specific cases of the Rosenbergs and Alger Hiss
ReplyDeleteThis is very well written. I liked how you showed the trend in American culture.
ReplyDeleteVery intersting article, and not too long. I don´t think it needs a picture.
ReplyDeleteA very well done and succinct summary of the facts. Well put together but maybe missing some visual aid for all of those visual learners out there
ReplyDelete