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Lesson

Civil Liberties and McCarthyism

Guiding question

How did laws enacted during national security crises affect liberty and security in America?

Duration
180 min
Published
Nov 5, 2020
A man gestures toward a map during a political hearing, while others observe seated at a table.
How did anti-communist behaviors characterized American public life following World War II?

Founding Principles

Liberty, Limited Government, Freedom of Speech

Learning objectives

  • Students will learn the historical background of the Cold War and McCarthyism.
  • Students will analyze documents related to anti-communist legislation.
  • Students will evaluate the threats to civil liberties, especially free speech, free press, and freedom of association, during national security crises.

Lesson Components

ActivityHandout A: First Amendment, U.S. Constitution, 1791
ActivityHandout B: Liberty and Security: Civil Liberties and McCarthyism
ActivityHandout C: House Un-American Activities Committee Mission Statement, 1948
ActivityHandout D: The Alien Registration Act of 1940, also called the Smith Act (Excerpts)
ActivityHandout E: Internal Security Bill of 1950, also called the McCarran Act (Excerpts)
ActivityHandout F: Truman’s Veto of the Internal Security Bill, September 22, 1950 (Excerpts)
ActivityHandout G: Excerpts from Chief Justice Vinson’s Majority Opinion Dennis v. United States (1951); a 6-2 Decision
ActivityHandout H: “McCarthy Cries Again,” Collier’s, August 2, 1952
ActivityHandout I: Edward R. Murrow, See It Now, March 9, 1954
ActivityHandout J: Follow-up
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Lesson plan

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Standards

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