A Divided Union? USA 1945-70

Key Facts

Hollywood Ten; In 1947 the HUAAC asked 10 Hollywood writers and directors to confirm that they had once belonged to the Communist Party. They refused to answer, using the 5th amendment. They were imprisoned anyway.

China; In 1949 the Communists took over power in China.

Iron Curtain; In 1946 Winston Churchill made a speech describing the differences between the USSR and the west as an "iron curtain". The wartime alliance was now dead.

Alger Hiss Trial; In 1948, Alger Hiss, a former official of the US State Department was falsely accused by a former Communist of handing over 200 secret state documents to him and being a communist. Hiss denied both charges, but was sent for prison for…