The Red Scare

In 1950 mass uncertainty and confusion had a name, The Red Scare. This paranoia centered around the idea that individuals were planning to overthrow the United States Government In the 1950’s a group of writers, directors, musicians, artist, and composers from Hollywood made appearances on the infamous list entitled “The Hollywood Ten”. This list, supposedly, was filled with radicals, including socialists and communists. It was announced that if your names were on this list you will be fired immediately, lose all pay, and never be hired again for any job in Hollywood. Artisans in Hollywood were able to remove themselves from this list by adding a fellow artisan to the list of ten. Americans everywhere panicked, and supported the list and the loss of jobs in the Hollywood industry. Many other head governmental officials were placed on the list as well. Senator McCarthy egged on the mass hysteria and individuals were left to wonder if their governmental officials (McCarthy) actually knew of these radicals who were trying to ruin their government, or if the members of Hollywood they once idolized were now being unfairly punished. Was their government safe? Was Hollywood safe?