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Russian Revolution
A revolution led by Vladmir Lenin in which the Russian tsarist autocracy was overthrown. As a result the first version of modern communism was installed in Russia, and Russia became the Soviet Union. Also the revolution led to the Russia's withdrawal from the Great War. -
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Palmer Raids
Raids overseen by J. Edgar Hoover who followed convictions of Attorney General Mitchell Palmer of Communist threat in the U.S. These raids led to the arrests of over 5,000 people who were held without charges for up to several months. These raids marked the first instances of anti-communist action in the United States. -
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World War II
After WWII, the Soviet Union and the US emerged as the two superpowers. Because of this, an ideologic rivalry developed between communism and capitalism which was manifested in the ensuing Cold War. -
Hollywood Ten Blacklist Instated
Hollywood actors, directors, and screenwriters were blacklisted, denied from employment, upon allegations of Communist party membership or sympathy. -
Marshall Plan Takes Effect
Part of the Policy of Containment in which the US provided aid to European countries in order to maintain these countries' faith in capitalism and stop the spread of communism. -
Whittaker Chambers testifies against Alger Hiss
In the Alger Hiss Case, Whittaker Chambers, a senior editor of Times magazine, admitted to being a former Communist secret agent and accused Alger Hiss of being a Soviet agent during his employment with the US government. In the ensuing trial, Hiss was convicted of perjury. -
Wheeling Speech
Speech delivered by Joseph McCarthy in West Virginia. In this speech, McCarthy announced a list of 205 people from the State Department who he claimed were known Communists that the Secretary of State knew about. -
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Tydings Committee Investigates State Department
Investigations charges made by McCarthy against members of the State Department. The final decision was that these members were not guilty of being Communists or Communist sympathizers. -
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Korean War
Conflict between North and South Korea over land. The US beseeched UN involvement, which they received because the People's Republic of China was not recognized as valid Security Council member and the Soviet Union was boycotting the UN, in order to stop the spread of communism. When China involved itself in the conflict, the war escalated. The casualties were so high that the both forces withdrew and the war ended in a stalemate. -
Rosenbergs Are Testified Against
Ethel's sister-in-law, Ruth Greenglass, testified that Julius recruited Ethel into communism and tried to recruit David Greenglass, Ruth's husband. This testimony snowballed into a trial with widespread publicity. -
Rosenbergs Brought to Trial
Due to the momentum gained by the accusations against them, the Rosenbergs were brought to trial despite a lack of substantial evidence. -
Rosenbergs Sentenced to Death
The magnitude of the punishment shows the American fear of communism. They were the only American civilians to be executed for espionage during the Cold War. -
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Army-McCarthy Hearings
Televised hearings that revealed McCarthy's propensity to make wild accusations and browbeat witnesses. -
McCarthy Dies
Died of acute hepatitis in the Bethesda Naval Hospital at the age of 48.
