Why were the Hollywood Ten sent to prison?
The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) also used its
power to investigate communist activities. In 1947, HUAC went after a group
of left-wing writers, directors, and producers. The Hollywood Ten refused to
testify against themselves. They were sent to prison anyway. A blacklist
named entertainment figures who were thought to have communist ties.
Communists working in academic institutions, labor unions, and city halls
were also blacklisted.
Questions
1. Why were the Hollywood Ten sent to prison? (video)
2. How were HUAC and the Smith Act meant to discourage communism in the
United States?
3. What does the word academic mean in the underlined sentence?
Why were the Hollywood Ten sent to prison? (video)
They were sent to prison due to their defiance to cooperate with HUAC. They were among the about 41 people from Hollywood who were supposed to testify and provide information about communism in the entertainment industry. The ten stood their ground denouncing techniques used by the HUAC. They were charged with contempt of Congress, fined, sentenced to prison and fired from their respective positions.
How were HUAC and the Smith Act meant to discourage communism in the
The United States?
HUAC (House un-American activities committee) was a federal agency that called individuals to question them about their relations and beliefs in communism. They would blacklist individuals tolerant to communist ideologies such that they never find employment or take any position. This scared people from communism.
The Smith Act of 1940 made it a crime to advocate for overthrowing the government or create and participate in an organization that has a goal of overthrowing the government. This act targeted communism because they believed the communists were out to overthrow the government. They had just overthrown USSR.
What does the word academic mean in the underlined sentence?
means capacity building, education related, research, and development and analyst institutions. Academic institutions build knowledge, create convincing concepts and theories and were feared for their potential to create very strong information that can change the perspective of mainstream Americans.
