Following World War II, tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States increased. As the Cold War began, the spread of communism and Soviet influence in places like China and North Korea concerned leaders in the United States. Additionally, the Soviet development of the atomic bomb and the discovery of spies in the US helping them led to an intense fear of communism within the United States. This led to investigations of communists and suspected communists in the Unites States. This lesson includes events such as the Rosenberg trials, blacklisting in Hollywood and the rise and decline of McCarthyism. Student should have a basic understanding of the early events during the Cold War prior to this lesson. Access this free resource through the following website.
Lesson Plan: The Red Scare and McCarthyism