The Red ScareA Choose Your Own Adventure Story

• This slide show is the story of what it was like to be suspected of being a communist during the Red Scare of the late 1940s and early 1950s.

• To navigate this slide show use the buttons provided for you at the bottom of the screen

• Throughout the slide show you will be asked a series of questions. The answers to those questions will lead you on to different stories.

• Once you have answered the question, there is no going back!

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A Little HistoryThink about the Cold War in Europe and Asia. Think about what we have talked about for the past 2 days. The country is fighting communists around the world. The country is also scared that the communists are going to take over the United States.

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A Little History (Cont)This fear led the government to start investigating people from all over the country for being communists. If the government thought you were a communist, then it called you before a committee and started asking questions.

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The StoryFor several years now the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) has been investigating people for being communists and making sure that they are blacklisted (on a public list as a known communist) from society.

In 1947 HUAC made the News by investigating Hollywood and the movie industry for possible communists.

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This is where you come in . . .The year is 1950. You are a famous movie director. During WWII you made a movie about how good, heroic, and valiant the Allies fought against the Germans.

You have been called in front of HUAC to testify about your movie and its possible support of Communism.

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Questions about your movie!The chairman of the committee looks you in the eyes. You can tell he doesn’t like you. You can tell he thinks you’re a communist and a danger to the country. He asks you a question, “The communists are taking over the world and you may have helped them by making a movie that makes communism look good. Why did you make a movie with the Soviets looking so good?”

A

B

“It was WWII, the Soviets were our allies. I made the movie so the people of the US would support our Allies.

“Because I am a communist and I want the USA to be Communist! Long live the revolution!”

What is your response?

You Commie BleepThe chairman looks surprised and then angry. He calls in the police and has you taken away. You spend the next 10 years in prison.

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Are you a Communist?The chairman of the committee looks down at his desk. He shuffles through a bunch of papers. After a few seconds he looks up and asks, “So . . . your not a communist then?”

A

B

“I refuse to answer that question. You have no right under the constitution to ask that question.

“Yes. I was a card carrying member of the communist party. It was not a crime to join the party. I was exercising my constitutional right to freely assemble with other communists.

What is your response?

C No. I am not a communist, nor have I ever been one.

So you were a communist . . .The Chairman gets a look of disgust on his face. “So, you were a communist, but you are not now a communist. It is good that you are no longer a Communist. The purpose for this committee is to find communists and make sure they cannot hurt America. Do you know of anyone that might be a communist?”

A

B

“I refuse to answer that question. I am proud that I am not now a communist, but I will not name names.”

“Yes. I know of many people that are communists. I would be happy to give you some names.”

What is your response?

A True AmericanThe Chairman smiles. “I am glad to hear that you are not a communist. I love most of your movies, the all American ones, and I would hate to hear that you were a communist. The purpose for this committee is to find communists and make sure they cannot hurt America. Do you know of anyone that might be a communist?”

A

B

“I refuse to answer that question. I am proud that I have never been communist, but I will not name names.”

“Yes. I know of many people that are communists. I would be happy to give you some names.”

What is your response?

Consequences of Refusing to AnswerThe chairman smiles a cold smile. “You do realize that refusal to answer any questions from this committee results in a charge of contempt of congress. We have charged people with this before. In the late 1940s when several of your Hollywood friends refused to answer our questions we sent them to prison. They were known as the Hollywood 10. Now, do you still refuse to answer my question. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the communist party?”

A

B

I will not answer your questions. This committee has no right to ask me that question. I will . . .I have decided to change my answer. Yes, I was a member of the communist party.

What is your response?

C I have decided to change my answer. No, I am not and never have been a member of the communist party.

Consequences of not naming names!The chairman smiles a cold smile. “You do realize that refusal to answer any questions from this committee results in a charge of contempt of congress. We have charged people with this before. In the late 1940s when several of your Hollywood friends refused to answer our questions we sent them to prison. They were known as the Hollywood 10. Now, do you still refuse to answer my question. Do you know of anyone that might be a communist?”

A

B

I will not answer your questions. This committee has no right to ask me that question. I will . . .

On second thought, I will give the names of those people I know to be communists

What is your response?

Naming Names“I am happy to hear that you are willing to give this committee what it is asking for. We have charged people with refusing to answer our questions. In the late 1940s when several of your Hollywood friends refused to answer our questions we sent them to prison. They were known as the Hollywood 10. Now, what names do you have for this committee?”

A

B

You list off as many names as you can. Friends, family, enemies, and anyone else you can think off.After thinking about it you refuse to give names. You will not rat out your friends.

What is your response?

No SpeechesThe chairman cuts you off in the middle of your speech. “There will be no speeches here today.” He looks back down at his desk. He seems to have a large amount of files. “If you yourself refuse to answer that question, then possibly you will tell us if there is anyone you know of that might themselves be communists?”

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B

“I refuse to answer that question as well. The 5th amendment gives me the right to . . .”“I have known many communists over the years and I would be glad to tell you their names.”

What is your response?

Giving NamesOnce again the Chairman cuts you off. “The 5th amendment does not protect people like you! It protects good hard working Americans, which you are not!” The chairman is getting angry. He is yelling at you now. “I have a list of names. You will tell us whether or not you know them to be communists or not.” He begins to read off the names.

A

B

For each name you tell the chairman, “I refuse to answer that question.”For each name you tell the chairman whether or not you know if that person is a communist.

What is your response?

Contempt of CongressThe chairman finishes reading of the names. You have told him with each name that you refuse to answer his questions. He is even more angry now. He calls in the police to take you away. “You are hereby sentenced to prison for Contempt of Congress. Will the bailiff (a police officer) please remove the witness.”

A

B

“This will be remembered as one of the saddest moments in American History! You are trampling all over the Constitution!”

“Wait! I will give you whatever names you want!”

As you are being taken away what do you yell back to the Chairman?

What happens to you . . .

After naming as many people as you can think of the committee thanks you for your cooperation. You continue to work in Hollywood making movies about trees with flatulence.

The End

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What happens to you . . .Because you refuse to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee you are labeled a Communist and Blacklisted. You are never able to work in Hollywood again.

The End

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Starting OverThere are many ways that this story can end. You can try to see what they are if you want.If you do not want to play again, reset the screen for the next player.

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