Evaluate the actions of the House Un-American Activities Committee (H.U.A.C.); analyze the era of McCarthyism and incidences of blacklisting; understand the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, including First Amendment freedoms.

As early as the 1930s, the House of Representatives Un-American Activities Committee (H.U.A.C.), was investigating labor unions for suspected Communist affiliation. In 1947, the H.U.A.C. called Hollywood artists to public hearings where even the suspicion of guilt ruined careers. A group of Hollywood artists known as the “Hollywood Ten” was sent to prison for refusing to answer questions about ties to the Communist party. By the early 1950s, the U.S. was in the grip of a “Red Scare,” fear of a Communist conspiracy. Books, music, and paintings deemed “un-American” were banned from libraries. In a number of televised hearings, Senator Joseph McCarthy made accusations that Communists worked in the State Department, the military, in education, and in Hollywood. Those who spoke out against McCarthy did so at a cost.

• CA  11.9: 3; 12.2: 1
• TX  113.32(6): f; 113.35(14): b
• FL  SS.A.5.4: 8
• NCSS  X(HS): e; VI(HS): b

2 class periods

• Activity Sheet, McCarthyism and Hollywood
• Timeline, Daily Life in the United States, 1940-59 
• Graphic Organizer, Concept Map
• Debate Rubric

Students have the opportunity to write a Research Report (see Extension below).

How did McCarthyism impact Hollywood?

Point of View Students will write opening statements to a mock trial, McCarthy vs Hollywood. Assuming the point of view of a congressional committee member or a member of the Hollywood entertainment industry, students will present their arguments to the class. Students will research the impact of the Hollywood Ten, the Red Scare, H.U.A.C., and McCarthyism on the American moviemaking culture in Hollywood

Have students research the topic using the provided links. Encourage them to use the suggested graphic organizer as they read the articles.

A movie theater built in the 1930s.

To start students thinking about the impact of McCarthyism on Hollywood, have them examine the photograph.

Key questions students should answer are:

• Based on this picture, how prominent is the movie theater in this community?
• What role do you think movies play in American culture?
• If members of the media were Communist sympathizers, how might that affect American society?

Distribute the Student Activity sheet. Divide the class into two teams—those who will represent the Hollywood Ten and defend their civil liberties against H.U.A.C. accusations, and those who will defend the government’s use of suspicion as a reason to investigate the Hollywood filmmaking community.

Tell students that they will research the following topics in preparation for writing their opening statement.

• Blacklisting
• Censorship in Literature
• Cold War Paranoia
• Issues of Civil Liberty
• The Hollywood Ten
• McCarthyism and TV
• McCarthyism in Education
• Hollywood Artistic Work
• Role of Film in Society

Tell students that they should choose one member from each group to present their opening statement to the class.

Use the Debate Rubric to assess students’ performance.

Have students reflect on their performance and use the list of expectations to judge how well they met the criteria.

Ask students: Is it ever right to censor public materials?

Expository Writing Have students use Daily Life through History to conduct research and write a report on Joseph McCarthy or the Hollywood Ten.

Critical Thinking: SYNTHESIZE