Today we discussed more about McCarthyism and the idea of it being a witch hunt. Joe McCarthy was the leader of this hunt and used fear to get people to follow him. Once it was discovered that he had no evidence he was removed from his powerful position.
For this evening:
1. Read the letter to HUAC from Lillian Hellman and explain what her goal was. In other words, what or who was she trying to protect?
2. Read the testimony of Eric Allen Johnston. Who was he? Who did he work for? What was the message he was sending to the committee?
3. Last, read the speech by Joe McCarthy at Wheeling, West Virginia. Explain the message that he was trying to give to those in attendence.
Last, what is your opinion on this event in history? Are you surprised that in America this happened? Why or why not?
Truly, you will need more than 7 sentences to answer this blog so do not rush to get it done but think and do it well.
53 comments:
she was trying to show people what she "Had" to do. she stated that if she said things about herself she would be in contempt if she didn't say anything about others who were in coagulation.
he liked to keep things virtualistically true in his eye's. he thought that instead of altering facts to tip the balance, truth should be upheld.
he is pointing out the battle between communistic atheism and christianity. he feels that the morality of most people is close to destruction. and only needs a little spark to restore order.
>alex warner 5th hour<
i am awesome!!!!!!!!
If you were not here today you need to find the articles at:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/arthur-miller/mccarthyism/484
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6454
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6443
Google: Joseph McCarthy, Speech at Wheeling, West Virginia, 1950
1. lillian hellman wanted to protect the people she worked with. she didnt care to call herself out but she didnt want to rat other people out.
2. Eric Allen Johnson was the president of motion picture assoication of america. The message he was sending to the committee was that there are decisnt people in hollywood not all of them are bad.
3. The message that joe McCarthy was trying to give to the attendence is that the communisms had invaded the united states government. My opinion on this event is horrible that rumors could spread and renuion lifes so quikly. I am not surpised that this happened in america because people feared what they dont understand they think its worse then what it really is.
Crystal maybee
5th hour
6th
In the letter to HUAC Lillian Hellman was stating that she will openly answer all questions the committee has to ask. However, Lillian tells the committee that she will only answer questions about herself and refuses to answer questions about others. She is trying to protect innocent people whom the committee may ask about. She believes that it is only loyal to refuse to answer these questions targeted at people she knows.
Eric Allen Johnson was a businessman, and also the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. In his first point, Johnson states that Congress has created the wrong impression on Hollywood, that everyone is Hollywood is communist. He asks for Congress to clear the accusations publicly. In his second point he asks for Congress to show proof that films in Hollywood have Communist propaganda. Congress has stated that they have proof, but has not made the list public. Johnson's third point relates to the topic of free speech. He states that government does not have the power to regulate what goes on film. He says that they are able to regulate their own films and will not "violate this trust by permitting subversive propaganda in our films." By this he means the films will stay loyal to America and not contain any communist propaganda. Johnson's last two points ask Congress to reveal communists in a "traditional American manner" and have a good reason for putting them up on trial.
In his speech the message Joe McCarthy was trying to bring across was that communism is growing quickly and Congress needs to take action before it gets out of hand.
My view on the topic is that it got out of hand. Many innocent people were punished based on no real evidence of their unloyalty to America.
1. I think she wanted to make sure the people that she worked with couldn't get accused of stuff. She said she would reveal herself but none of the people she worked with. I think that is really cool not to snitch cuz one day peopl may snitch on you.
2. He was the head of the a motion picture association. His message was that not all people are communist if they know someone who is. There are good people in the world.
3. His speak was saying that Communism is in American Gov. I think that he hated communsim so much that he was so scared that it was in the U.S. Gov. I think his head was in the right place, to be cautious but not flip out and start accussing people of being communsist who really weren't.
4. My opinion is that that McCarthy guy was only scared, like really scared . He was right to think it may be in the u.s. but what he did was not right. I am not surprised that this happened because America is sopposed to be free but somethings as major as communism just don't fly.
Zack Ruffin 6th hour
1. I think that in this letter Lillian Hellman is trying to protect innocent people who were being accused of something they werent. She didnt want to cause any trouble, but she was trying to help those people who she knew for many years, and tryed to put a stop to it. 2. Eric Johnston was a succesful business man who in 1945 succeeded Will H. Hays as President of the Motion Picture Association of America. The overall message that he was sending to his committee was that not everyone from Hollywood is a Communist, and that they should stop investigating there, because yes, Hollywood is known for having more Communists, but that doesnt mean everyone is a communist there. 3. In Joe McCarthys speech, he is basically stating that communism is growing rapidly and the government needs to take action before it gets way to out of hand.
4.My opinion on this event was that it got too out of hand, and it was so corrupt, because we are supposed to be a free country, and all of the accusing people of being a Communsist with no real evidence was very out of hand and unloyal to America.
Clare Pathe
The goal of the from Lillian Hellman was to ask to only speck about herself at the hearing and not about other people. She did not want to give them names that could hurt other. She was trying to protect anyone she knows or anyone that may be hurt if their name is said in the hearing.
Eric Allen Johnston was a successful businessman and president of the Motion Picture Association of America.The message he was senting to the committee was to stop making Hollywood look bad. He was also trying to say that what they are doing is worng and they should stop.
The message of the speech given by Joe McCarthy was to put fear into people so that his ideas would live on. He was trying to show that what he is doing is right and that the examples he gives are correct, and back up with facts.
My opinion is that only reason people fell into this trap was fear. The good people where scard and did not stand up for what they though was right. No i am not surprised this happened beacause all humans make mistakes and do things they are not pround of. Looking back on it most of them regreded what they did and our counrty learned from the experiance.
Shaun Gerber
5th Hour
1. Read the letter to HUAC from Lillian Hellman and explain what her goal was. In other words, what or who was she trying to protect?
2. Read the testimony of Eric Allen Johnston. Who was he? Who did he work for? What was the message he was sending to the committee?
3. Last, read the speech by Joe McCarthy at Wheeling, West Virginia. Explain the message that he was trying to give to those in attendence.
Last, what is your opinion on this event in history? Are you surprised that in America this happened? Why or why not?
1. Lillian was trying to tell the senate she would cooperate about her with the questions. Secondly, she was trying to show she wouldnt throw any of her allliances under the bus. therefore showing how she would protect them.
2. eric was business man in hollywood. He worked for the National Motion Picture Assoc. i thinkn that he was trying to show the council that hollywood was not communist. The council set an image on hollywood as a whole, not just certain card member communist.
3.McCarthy was trying to pusuade people to rat on card holders and to stop communism with him. McCarthy was intimidated by the increasingly amount of population in communist russia. He thought that they were planning a takeover.
4. Personally i think that this event was bull. I think taht the way the government let him do his questioning and sentencing was uncalled for. i am not suprised that this happened in the US. I think that like all corrupt and greeat leaders they create a bandwagon. I think this went on inside of the government. When McCarthy rallied, everyone was behind him that they didnt question his methods. i think that someone needed to step up and say something about how people were being treated, not just stand back and be a bystander.
Lillian Hellman was trying to protect the people she has been associated with in her letter to HUAC. Her goal was to make herself clear, that she was not going to falsely accuse for a lesser penalty. Eric Allen Johnston was a successful businessman who succeeded from Will. H. Hayes as president of the motion picture association of America. Johnston main purpose for his testimony that the percentage of communism in Hollywood is very small. For the government to have the decency to not broadcast communists, so innocents don't get labeled. His main point was pretty much we were doing a shitty job handling this issue. McCarthy was trying to persuade our country into believing he was right. He made it seem that he was the hero. He expressed how dangerous Russia was becoming, and how important it is to make sure were safe. He attacked the wealthy to make them seem corrupt. And he used apathy as an excuse. I'm not surprised this happened in America. this happens everywhere. It was part of apathy. the apathetic nation stood by and watched a single corrupt and powerful man change the bases of what America was built of. He attacked one of the worst feelings. Terrifying the nation into believing he was saving us.
1. her goal was to answer all of her own questions about herself, not about any other one. she was trying to protect all the people that were innocent, that they might question about.
2.eric allen johnston was a successful businessman, was the president of the motion picture association of america. the message he was sending was that all the things that publicity was saying wasnt true. they thought that hollywood was full of communists. he wants this to be corrected, that they arent communist or bad.he believes in free speech.
3. speech at wheeling: joe was saying that communism is growing and alot of people are apathetic about it, and it needs to be stopped.
4.my opinion on this is that everyone took it so seriously, they acted imature, and they were fearing alot of stuff. too many people got punished and it was crappy.
steffie
1)What was Lillian Hellman's goal? Her goal was to protect protect people she worked with. She had no problem what so ever talking about herself, she just did not want to feel like a snitch.
2)Eric Allen Johnston was the president of motion picture association of America. The message he was sending the committee was that there are some good people in Hollywood, not all of them are bad.
3)The message he was trying to give was that the communisms had invaded the united states government. He was desperate to scare people into the way he was thinking.
4)My opinion on this event in history is it was stupid. WE should have had self confidence that nothing was going to happen. I am not surprised that this event had happened. We are all a little scared of things and people bring out the worst in everyone.
Samantha Casteel
5th hour
The letter to HUAC is a attempt to tell the entire truth. Although she would most likely loose this situation(I'm not sure how, but then again the "anti-communist" thing was just pointing fingers around and was approve), she stated that she wouldn't have traded in her freedoms just for another false accusation to continue. She was willing to give up an American right just to protect friends!
Johnston was simple in his testimony. This is just a overview of the first part of it.
"I'm not here to bullsh!t anyone into thinking I'm trying to protect Hollywood with lies. I only stay with all the facts there is to be. The Commies must be partying to have the fear of them were they themselves are not present. However this doesn't mean that there isn't Communist, I do believe that there is only a small number of them."
I've read the article, all I can say is "god this guy is more paranoid than me when I'm looking for rouges*". He thought such a small number of people could overthrow the gov't and replace it with communism. He might've been right, but the system was generally flawed. No, ENTIRELY flawed. Humanity isn't prefect, fear was created just for us to save ourselves and run like hell. Though stressed times we gain incredible strength but lose our logic. We will do ANYTHING to survive alone. All that system would have turned to humans sacrificing others to just be fine!
* Rouges in wow are very overpowered steathy bastards. and as a Caster-clothy, I gotta keep an eye out.
What makes me a nerd even more. Thinking THIS is awsome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn9970dxQ2g
Derek Guckian
I think she was trying to show every one what she had to do. She dint want to tell on the other people.
Eric Allen Johnson was the president of motion picture assoication of america. The message he was tryingto get through was that not every one are communists. Just because they may know someone who is doesnt meen they are. There are some good people in the world to.
THe message that he was trying to give was that communism was begining to invade the United States.
I think that this was a bad thing. They were afriad of it because they didnt undersatand it. I am not surprised this happened baecause they thought it was worse then it actually was.
KAtlyn Twigg 6th HOur
Mr. Kay,
1. I think that Lillian Hellman was protecting the workers she worked with. I think that she would have rathered her get in trouble rather than all of her fellow workers.
2. Eric Allen Johnston was a hardworking businessman, and he was also te President of Motion Pictures Association of America. I think that Eric was trying to send the message that not all people are bad. Some people have a sweet heart, but they just dont show it.
3. I think that Joseph McCarthy was trying to tell the people that their country was in a battle between different practices. Christianity and Atheism. I think that the people who started those rumors did not expect to ruin the lives of people. But they still should not have even spread them in the first place. I do believe that Joseph was kind of over drastically thinking. It seems that he was making such a big deal about it, as if the world was going to come to an end.
Danielle Turner
5th Hour
1. the goal that she had was to answer questions about her self. she was trying to protect the innocent that the government might question.
2. Eric Johnston was a businessman that was very successful. he was the president of a motion picture association of America. he was sending a message to the committee that said that the things that publicity s saying were false.
3. The speech at Wheeling: the message that Joe was trying to put out in the open is that communism is growing.
4. My opinion on this is that i think that they took it to seriously. the government could take on a little group. Am i surprised? no, because we are country and as a country we will eventually have to face everything one way or another.
1.In the letter HUAC, Lillian Hellman was telling the committee that she would answer any questions she was asked. However, she said that she would only do so if she was not asked questions about others. She said she would plead the 5th amendment if she was asked questions about others. She also said that she would not rat out other people to save herself.
2.Allen Johnston was the president of Motion Picture and he was also a business man. In Allen's first point, he tells the committee that Congress has created a false image of Hollywood. He stated that Congress made it seem that everyone who was in Hollywood was communist. In his second point he is stressing to the committee about evidence. He says that unless there is evidence or proof of communism, that the committee should take away the charges. Overall, Johnston was trying to tell the committee that not everyone is a communist and that you can't accuse anyone of being communist without a fair trial and evidence.
3.The message McCarthy was trying to give was that the government needed to act quickly before it got out of hand. He was telling that it needed to be stopped.
4. I personally think that this is crazy. I think it was unfair to accuse people of being communist WITHOUT evidence. Accusing people of something this major with a trial is just insane. Another part that is stupid t=is that McCarthy put so much fear in people about going to jail and whatnot, that people actually ratted out friends and people they new just to clear their name. I can't believe that he actually got away with doing this for a while.
Cody Kabisa
6th hour
Lillian Herman wishes to let everybody in the committee know that she is not afraid. She has nothing to hide and is not scared to hold anything back about herself. She even is willing to waive the 5th Amendment and does not care about any question that is asked of her. She does not wish to answer anything ese about others. She believes that it is their fight and she does not know everything about them.
Johnston was a successful businessman in 1945. He was president of the MPAA and was defending Hollywood from the HUAC's attacks toward the movie industry. He said that the nation's panic over all of these things is becoming overwehlming. Johnston sticks to the facts. He says that HUAC is becoming too protective over this panic of communism. He makes a very valid point in that he says it's free speech and people can do what they want. Under the Constituion, they are protected.
McCarthy is saying that communism is quickly becoming a world icon in government. he was trying to let people know that someone had to put an end to it. He clearly wanted the government involved.
On this event in history, I would have to be there to understand the full effect. Honestly, I can't see why this is a huge deal. people should be allowed to choose their own government. One country cannot force a different government on another country. The US was one of the world powers and it can't be pushed around. Overall, people made too big of a deal over it. I am suprised that this happened in America because I thought our econmy was thriving along with our government at this time.
William Schwartz
6th hr
1.Her goals were to tell the truth, not to be a false witness, not to harm my neighbor, and to be loyal to her country. These are all good qualities that she used during the trial. She was trying to protect all the acquaintances from her past that could be innocent and only talk about her self during the trial.
2.Eric Johnson was a successful businessman and president of the Motion Picture Association of America. He worked for Hollywood. The message he was sending to the committee was that not everyone is communist. That a very small amount of people are.
3.In the Speech that Joe McCarthy gave at Wheeling he was saying that communists were everywhere and he wanted to scare everyone into believing him.
Personally I don't think it is right to judge some one before you have all of the facts. I am not surprised that this happened in America. Bad things happen all the time with out any one knowing. We are all human and we all make mistakes so no this wouldn't surprise me.
Tyler Inman
Mr. Kay,
Lillian was trying to epress the fact that she wanted to talk about her. She didnt want to talk about others, only her. She was trying to protect others by not ratting them out.
Eric Allen Johnston was president of motion pictures of america. He was a great buisnessman and he was trying to stop making hollywood look bad. He also said that not everyone in hollywood is communist and unless you have proof they are they should not be charged.
Joe Mccarthy was stressing the fact that communism is spreading rapidly. He said someone needs to put a stop to it.
In my opinion i really dont get why this happened. I mean were our american vaulues thrown out the window? So i guess yes, i am extremely suprised this occured.
Jordan Blanzy
5th hr
In Lillian Hellman's letter, she wanted to tell the complete truth. She did not want to harm any people by nameing names. She said that she will tell the whole thruth as long as she didn't have to say any names.
Eric Allen Johnson is a very sucessful bussinessman. He is also the president of Motion Picture Association of America. He wanted the commitee to relize that not everyone in Hollywood is a communist. He also wants Communists to be exposed, it is safer, however, they need to do it in the traditional American manner.
Joe McCarthy was trying to send the message that we would lose the cold war due to enemies within our borders. Meaning, the communists that are in America would be the ultimate reason we would lose the cold war. So we need to get rid of them.
I am very surprised that this has happened in history. America is all about our rights and for most of us to sit there and watch them being taken away is crazy. I'm very surprised that only a few people had the courage to stand up to the system. I really think that this was an embarising moment for America. Most showed that fear trumped what is right and what we want.
Kristen Pauly
6th hr.
1. Lillian's goal was to help the people who werent really communists. These people were being accused of being communist and she was trying to help them so that they werent being accused.
2. Eric Johnston was a successful businessman who was the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. the message he was trying to send to the commitee was that Hollywood is NOT running over with communists and communism.
3. Joe McCarthy was trying to tell the people in attendance that the State Department, the Democratic Party, and the Army had people who where traitors within the groups. In other words he pretty much said that there are communist people or communism in these departments.
4. My opinion on this stuff is that I think it is really stupid. I dont know why somebody would want to start a big ordeal like this and then lose their job over it. I dont know maybe he wanted to do this and lose is job over it. I am not really surprised that this happened in America because this isnt only upbrawl we have had. Tere are some stupid things that goverment people have done in the past.
Troy Wojichowski 6th hr
In the Lillian Hellman letter she was trying to protect her old friends who were to be questioned. She refused to answer any questions that had nothing to do with her because she stated it was wrong to hurt innocent people in order to save herslef. I also beleive that she was trying to protect her rights as an American. Eric Johnston was a successful businessman in Hollywood and became the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. What Eric was trying to explain was that they have never hired a communist and that most of everything the committee was blaming them for was wrong. For instance, the government had a list of movies with communist propoganda in it. Johnston was willing to disprove them and attempt them to stop putting a bad message out that everyone in Hollywood was a communist when Eric said the percentage was extremely small. McCarthy tried to convince people that the number of communists in America was increasing and that people woking in important positions for America were traitors. I think that this event shouldn't have happened, this is America we should not be randomly questioned. I'm suprised that this happened because America had the most human rights and people should be allowed to speak freely or keep to themselves without worrying about loosing their job or reputation. I do feel that this isn't so suprising because the government is way too paranoid not that it shouldn't be, but they need to have trust in their citizens.
Caroln Newton period 5
1. Lillian Hellman's goal in her letter to the HUAC was to let the HUAC know that she was not going to choose between giving up the name of her associates to protect herself. She was protecting the innocent people and that meant she would be blacklisted herself rather than hurt innocent people.
2. Eric Allen Johnston was a businessman who became the president of the Motion Picture Association of Ameria. He was defending Hollywood against the accusations and attacks of good honest people in the movie making business. Johnston was telling the committee that the public was getting the wrong idea that Hollywood was filled with communist people and that most of the people in Hollywood were not communists. He told them the people in Hollywood were good honest people that took pride in their country and they needed to fix the damaging impression that was left on the people in Hollywood. Johnston felt that communism was wrong and should be exposed, but in the right way.
3. The message that McCarthy gave in his speech at Wheeling, West Virginia was that the people in the U.S. wer4e in a war with opposign ideologies and not a military war. The Christian way of running the country was being challanged by the communist party. He explained who bad the communist party was and that the commnist were tryhing to invade our country.
4. Lastly, I think this event in history was unthinkable. I am surprised that this happened in Ameria-this goes against everything our country is based upon. I quesiton how McCarthy was so powerful to have made so many people get tried and convicted without a proper trial and evidence. The ideas of democracy were not followed during this era and hopefully this will never happen again.
6th hour
Mr. Kay,
1. What Lillian was doing was she was protecting the people around her. We dont know if she actuall had communist friends, but even if she didnt, she still didnt want to she she did or she didnt.
2. What this guy is saying is that not all people are bad in hollywood. People assuem that because you are famous, you have a huge ego and dont understnad :the working man". When not all are liek this.
3. What McArthy was doing is he was saying that communists were taking over the US government. Although this was not proven, many beleieved that there were. This just shows you how people will believe anything when it scares them.
Lillian Hellman was an a playwrite or a screenwriter. Her goal was to not give any names to the committee. All in all she was trying to protect the rights of all Americans. She was the only one to pleed the fifth. Which I think was really brave. For a women to do that. Eric Allen Johnston was a businessman who succeed Will H Hays to become the president of the Motion Picture Assocition of America. Allen was saying that he was also not going to give names. But the differece between Allen and Hellman was he told the committee that he wanted a list of names that the HUAC said were communist. As he asked for names he also wanted it to be done in the "American Tradition way." In his speech Joe McCarthy was saying the there are more communists in America. He believed that the military was in on it to. He did not give any edvience in his speech. I think that in all reality McCarthy want to be the next Hitler of American. I think that if he go the power that everyone would be afriad of him. In which way it worked. He had alot of people afraid of him. No matter what their beliefs were. I also think that alot innocent people were accused of such a thing. Like the guy from the D. I honestly believe that he was not a communist. I think alot of people looked down on him. Only because of the accastions against him.
1. Lillian Hellman's goal in her letter was to tel her rights. She has the right to plead the fifth. She also had the right to not tell any names if she doesn't want to. She thinks that these innocent people don't deserve to be accused of certain beliefs they may have. She only wanted to protect herself and anyone else with the same thoughts as her.
2. Eric Allen Johnston was the President of the motion picture company. He was also a business man interested in setting things right. The overall message he was trying to send was that not everyone in Hollywood is a Communist. He also points out that the Committee can't regulate what goes into the movies. He also wants to see proof that there is propaganda in the movies with communist ideas. Lasty, he asked that communists be pointed out, but in a traditional just way.
3. In McCarthy's speech he was basically saying that communism poses a potential threat and we need to point it out the best we can.
4. I am not suprised this event occured in history. This is because communism was spreading so quickly in other parts of the world that it was bound to happen in the US. There had to be someone to go about everything unjustly.
Lillian goal was to defend her privilege of self incrimation. She was trying to protect herself but also was protecting her friends and people she knows. now in the other testimony, Eric Allen Johnson was a businessman, and also the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. He was sending to the committie that they had the wrong impression on all of Hollywood and on there company. Also, he siad that the percentage of communism in Hollywood is very small. Now McCarthy was saying they have to get to it and not let it get out of hand. I think this is basically just crazy but to tell you the truth it was a smart play by McCarthy. Know i am not saying it's right what he did just was smart play by him to get people to follow him.
Ty Bouwens, 6th hour
Lillian was trying to protect the innocence of others by not delving into their privacy. The meet-up was supposed to be about her, and her alone. She didn't want to talk of the people she was protecting.
Eric A. Johnson was the president of a Filming Company, he works in Hollywood, and he wanted everyone to be truthful with their actions. He didn't want any more lies and communism in America.
Mr. McCarthy's speech was to try and support the punishment that must be used to stop communism. He believes that the goverment spawned the 'evil' of communism, and that someday he hopes that some good will come of it eventually.
I think that the 'modern witch hunt' is not over, even though it may be less dramatic than it was in the old days. No one chases after the 'bad guys' with torches and pitchforks anymore. It's all about guns, cop cars, and german shepherds chasing down the supposed terrorists.
It's not like it used to be a few years back, but the idea is still the same. I think things might never change.
In the article about Lilliam Hellman, she clearly stats that she will not answer any questions about her fellow citizens, that she may have been involved with. She will only answer questions that are reffered to her. Lulliam is trying to protect the other's that surround her, she stated that she will be willing to testify to her own opinion's and own actions. No one else. Therefore, she is trying to protect other people from getting in trouble. Eric Johnston was Eric a businessman, and also the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. He was sending multiple messages to the committee such as, a damaging impression of Hollywood. His second point included he wanted a list of all pictures produced in Hollywood for the last 8 years, which was a Communist propaganda. For the third point, was the freedom of speech. As for the fourth point, he wanted to expose the Communist and make the unarmed and vulnerable. Then his final point he was trying to figure out what the ideas were about the co bating communism. Through all these points, he hopes he message was finally heard. Durning the readings of Joe McCarthy's speech I've came to the conclusion that he was trying to get people to understand that communism is still growing. As well as, someone should stand up and take action and do something about this because it goes to far. in my opinion based upon this event is, that it did get to out of hand. Many people were hurt, and all of this could of have been prevented just by the Congress taking matters into their own hands. There were many who were accused for the matter, but they did not receive any real evidence. So in the end, they could of handled the situation better, in my view.
Alanna Nagi
6th hour
John Kent
5th hour
Lillian Hellman believed it was wrong to talk about other people. She agreed to only talk about herself. She refused to comment on the activities of others. Eric Allen Johnston was a business man for the film industry. He made it clear that not many people in Hollywood were communists. He said he felt the subcommittee should give more proof be fore accusing someone. They are taking away our freedom of speech and many of our main rights as U.S. citizens. The message that McCarthy was trying to give to the people in the attendance was that communism is spreading like a disease now they out number us and we should stop the growth of this disease. My opinion on this event in history is that no one should take advantage of our fear and take away our right just because someone claims you are a communist. I am surprised that this is a country that insures people their rights and they lose it because someone called them a communist.
i think lillian Hellman wanted to protect the people she had been working with. she didnt realy care to call herself out. But is wasnt her thing to rat out other poeple she knew.
Eric Johnston - 1945 succeeded Will H. Hays as President of the Motion Picture Association of America. the message that he was trying to day to his committee was that not everyone from Hollywood is a Communist, and that they should stop investigating there, because yes, Hollywood even though alot of people are that doesnt mean that every person is.
McArthy was saying that communists were taking over the United States government. even thought this wasn't proven, people still thought that it was happening. people shouldnt always believe what they hear.
well i dont really have an opinion but i do think this is wrong. Im not really suprised that this happend to america, i mean we kinda had it comming everyone is different, people have their won views. People are weird.
Lillians goal was to speak about herself and to answer questions about her, but not give names or speak of others who are innocent. She was trying to protect the innocent people. Eric johnston is a businessman. I believe he works in show business. he told the committee that people have the freedom of speech. this means that they can speak whatever they want without it harming others. Mccarthy was saying that americans have morals. therefore, we just need to spark them.
amy urbanik
5th hour
Lillian Hellmans goal was to protect the people that she knew. Mostly her coworkers and family.
Eric allen was good buisness man who was the head of motion picture association of america. He wanted to send the nessage that everyone is not a communist. He also wanted to prove that hollywood was not currupteed with comunism. Joe McCarthy wanted to prove that eveyone is a communist. He wanted to put fear into people and scare them. He thought that cominism was going to take over and if you weren't communist you soon would be. In my opinion I'm not surprised that hihs happened in the US. The US is a powerful county. We are ver scuccesful in our government. People want to challenge the US and its power. Poeple like to see if they can break the system and change the great US.
chris Reid
5th hour
Megan Fraser
6th hour
1. Lillian's goal was to get HUAC to see her beliefs and to try to get them to think a little more rationally and understand. She explains that she is perfectly willing to testify for herself but won't speak for others.
2. Eris Allen Johnston is a movie producer or something like that in hollywood. He was trying to say that hollywood wasn't actually bad they were just falsely accused with little or no evidence. He's saying that we have the right of free speech and should be able to use it.
3. McCarthy is trying to say that there are communists out there and people should unite against them and save america. He's giving figures to try and support himself but really he's just using fear and scaring people into doing what he wants them to.
4. My opinion is that this was a bad event and it shouldn't have happened. I guess it goes to show what gossip can really do, even at a professional level. I'm not really all that surprised that it happened though. People can be so stuck on one thing and they won't see anyone else's point of view. I know its suppossed to be a free country of equality but everyone knows that its really not. People are just going to think what they want and say what they want too.
To me Lillian Hellman tried not to release information on any people she knew. She did agree to answer questions on herself but only herself. Most likely she only wanted to protect people.
Eric Allen was the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. He asked for proof/evidence of the tings that happened in hollywood that showed communism. He mainly tries to express that congress had made an incorrect opinion of hollywood.
McCarthy was pretty scared of communism. He had thought it was spreading into the government and taking control. He showed his stupidity when it came down to accuseing people of being communist. He had it wrong and innocent people were affected by this.
I look at it this way. There is no problem being cautious about whats going on, just dont go to far. We had no evidence on some things and innocent people were hurt because of it. I dont blame them for taking action on the possible threat...I just blame them for how they handled it.
Taylor Dieck
1. Lillian was trying to say that she would answer any question about her self. But would not talk about others. She said if she was going to be tried it should only be questions about her, because thats what is fair.
2. Eric Allen was trying to say that not everyone in Hollywood is a communist. They were being accused of this however, it was unfair and they had no proof. Saying just because you are in the industry does not necissarily mean you are a communist.
3. His speech is basically telling everyone that communism is everywhere. That no one can be trusted, and dishonest people are sprinkled everywheere. I don't agree with his statements but I do think this speech was a well thought out plan to scare people.
The whole event it's self is kinda off. I don't really understand how one man can spread so much propaganda. Create so much fear in peoples lifes. This was a messed up event in history.
1. I think she wanted to make sure the people that she worked with couldn't get accused of stuff. She said she would reveal herself but none of the people she worked with. I think that was pretty nice of her to not rat out other people.
2. Eric was business man in hollywood. He worked for the National Motion Picture Assoc. He was trying to show the council that hollywood was not communist. The council set an image on hollywood as a whole, not just certain card member communist.
3. In the Speech that Joe McCarthy gave at Wheeling he was saying that communists were everywhere and he wanted to scare everyone into believing him.
My opinion on this event was that it got too out of hand. Were suppost to be a free country. Many innocent people were punished based on no real evidence of their unloyalty to America. No not realy becuase people have different thoughts about it.
1.in Lillian's letter she was trying to expalin what she believed. she wanted them to only ask her questions pertaining to her. she didn't want o give out names of poeple because she couldn't. they might not have been valid and they would have had to suffer.
2.in Eric's testimony he was explaining how you shouldn't just accuse someone of committing something with out facts. he was involved with Hollywood and film making. he didn't appreciate the assumptions put on them.
3.Joe McCarthy was telling people that the Soviet Union was going to attack the United States.
i think it is something very expected in America or even the human culture. when someone is willing to lead with an idea some will follow, and then others don't want o be different, so they go with the crowd. when people are in fear, tired, hungry, and poor they are more apdt to letting someone else help them through hard times. That is how Hitler came into power. he promised the people things they were never going to get.
It seemed like she was explaing what she felt was right. She would go to court for her self and not sell out other people to get out of it. She was trying to protect people she knew and worked with for years she wasnt going to make up stuff and say they were Communist. Eric Allen Johnston was a man working in the film industry. He worked throughout Hollywood in many difrent areas. It seemed to me the message he was sending to the committee is McCarthy is using his power as he see's fit accusing anyone he feels like without proper proof or anything. And he should not be able to do that because its improper and not the americain way. That hard working americains are being accused and their lives ruined becuase McCarthy says they are a communist. McCarty seemed to try to make it seem like the communist were invading like a plague and would be the downfall of America. That we are losing a battle and should be happy the numbers are starting to go in our favor. In my opinion I am kinda surprised this happened because by prosecuting people for being different is hypocritical because thats why we started our country because we wanted to be different. But McCarthy used fear to his advantage like Hitler did in WW2 to rally people against the Jews. Saying they will come together and overthrow us from below. I think this really shouldn't of happened the way it did they should have had more solid evidence that anyone in the courtroom should have been able to view. Not just saying they have it and hold a envelope above everyones heads saying it has all the information to prove this person is a communist.
kevin anderson
6th hour
The women was stating that she would tell them anything they wanted to know about her, as long as she was not asked to tell names. She did not want to ruin the lives of other innocent people. The second man states that just because someone has some relation to a communist, it doesnt make them that as well. He wanted people to know not everyone is bad, like McCarthey seemed to think. McCarthy just was a paranoid crazy dude. He convinced himself communist was in America and was going to take over if he didnt do anything. When in reality communism was never a real threat to America. My opinion on everything is that One man overreacted and everyone followed him. Its what happens when you cant think for yourself.
Mikki Nosek 5th HR
Lillian Hellman was stating that she will openly answer all questions the committee has to ask. she wasnt going to deny anything so they didnt think she was lying or anything. she would talk about herself but noone else so she didnt hurt anyone elzse in her work. so another words ahe wasnt looking for a easy way out.
Eric Allen Johnston was head of motion pictures at the time. he was very succesfull to. i feel his message was the are good people in hollywood not all people are guilty until proven innocent as they say.
The message given from joe mccarthy was to let people know that the worst has happened. the communist had gotten into the government and the goverment was beggining to become communist. he wanted people to know this and relize this because he dispised the thought of communism.
i am not really surprised that this happened. m ainly because us americans tend to put alot on outr plates and cant handle everything that is given or taken by us. with that said all the stuff we take on becomes overwhelming and we cant handle it so it slowy takes over and it hard to get back the control over the situation.
1. Lillian's goal was encourage others not to be snitches. Lillian said she would only answer questions concerning herself. She was trying to protect her and her college shot at getting jobs. just because they were accused of being communist they would still be given an equal shot at getting a job as others. Due because of the Fifth amendment.
2. Eric Allen Johnson was the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. The message he was sending was stop falsely accusing Hollywood. He wanted to see facts to prove that everybody in Hollywood was communist.
3. He was telling the people that without a plan the issue of communism would potentially spread to the U.S. He did this by scaring people making them think they are in danger so that they try and do something about it.
4. I think this part of history is important but not very interesting. no I'm not surprised this happened to america because america is very gullible and with out a smart manipulative man america could have been a communist country.
Taylor Wattles
6th
1. Lillian Hellman was trying to protect herself as well as others. She didn’t want to have to accuse others of doing something they didn’t do. By not doing this, she was also protecting others. She said she would give up her right against self-incrimination by telling the committee anything they wanted to know about her. For this though, she asked that she would not have to name other people, or she would plead the privilege of the Fifth Amendment.
2. Eric Allen Johnston was a successful businessman and the President of the Motion Picture Association of America. He was trying to send the message that the hearings they had were hurting Hollywood. Also, he said that they wanted to defend their movies, but that they didn’t know which movies were being accused of containing Communist propaganda, and that it was unfair. He agreed that Communists should be found and stopped, but that they needed to present their evidence against the accused.
3. McCarthy was trying to show how quickly Communism was spreading and that we needed to put an end to it. He believed that one of the major causes of the Communism problem was from traitors inside the country. He tried to convince Americans that they were following their good morals by turning in Communists that they knew of.
I think that the Communism scare should not have happened, but it did. I am not surprised that it happened though, but I am truly surprised that it got so out of hand. The government allowed so many things that should not have been allowed, such as trying a person without telling them what evidence they have, therefore not allowing them to be able to build a strong defense. The reason why I am not surprised it started is because people allow others to influence them too easily sometimes. People like McCarthy who feed off of people’s feelings have a great influential power. The more he told citizens to be afraid of Communism, the more they listened. People followed many of the opinions of McCarthy out of fear for what could happen if this Communism wasn’t stopped. I think that McCarthyism should be a lesson learned and that we should not allow issues like this happen again.
Kaleigh Swanson
6th hour
Mr. Kay,
I understand what Lillian Hellman was doing by this letter. She was explaining why she is using the fifth amendment rights by telling them answers about her views and such to get out of exposing the innocent people she knows. She is saying that she is willing to go through all of this crap and accusations and everything so she never has to give up anything pertaining to her innocent friends and such. Now, with Eric Allen Johnston, he was a businessman who followed Will Hayes who was the president of the MPAA. He has a couple main points and reasons why he is writing this message. One of which is how the accusations that everyone in Hollywood is a communist should be corrected because Hollywood is being frowned upon because of the accusations. I am skipping around, but another talks about how films were being censored and such of this time and he says it is free speech to put out what they want to. Now, Joe McCarthy's message he was trying to convey is, well, loyalty is good. He is talking about how in their time, loyalty and honesty weren't very common, but at the same time they were very necessary. He talks about how someone sells out another person, they are doing some sort of moral crime because honesty to another is very serious. I agree to a certain extent. I think that loyalty is important, but if your friend needs to be ratted out, they should be. My opinion on this part of history is sort of a sick time. Everyone is being shunned and being treated badly because another peer said they could be a communist and everyone was blaming each other, and that kind of disloyalty is honestly annoying. It is surprising this happened in American because America is really big on the whole purpose of freedom and this sort of goes against people freedom. It seemed as if people would be told, okay, your free here, just not free to be a communist. It is thus very ironic. This is what I think on this subject.
-Luke LaFountain
6th Hour
Lillian Hellman's goal was to not let the people control her and make her tell them who else was a communist. She was trying to protect all the people she cares about because she was already screwed so she didn't want to ruin anyone else's life.
Eric Allen Johnson is the president of the movie company.He worked for the National Motion Picture Association. He wanted to show that not all artists, and actors were communists. He wanted to also show that people could trust hollywood.
McCarthy tells his audience that their are communists everywhere. He is trying to strike fear in the eyes of america. Like we talked about in class, people listen to things that they should be affraid of. In this case people listened to McCarthy.
My opinion is that it was a good idea to get rid of all the communists, but they approached the problem in a wrong way. Instead of just blaming people, they should have actually investigated people. I am surprised that they would ruin so many peoples lives because america was all abut freedom. No one had freedom they were all affraid they would be called communists.
1. Lillian Hellman told the committee that she would answer any questions bout herself. She told them she had nothing to hide from them. But, she would not hurt innocent people to save herself. I think this was very noble of her. She said how she was brought up in a good christian home and "would not violate the good american tradition". To me Lillian Hellman was a true American who would suffer the consequences but stay true to the truth and not give false names to save her own self.
2.Eric Allen Johnston was an average businessman who worked in Hollywood. He told the committee that the accusations on false communists was showing a bad impression about hollywood and he thought that should be corrected. He also disscussed some American rights. For example freedom of speech. He is basically saying how these communists have the right to believe in what they want to.
3. McCarthy is trying to say that there are communists out there and people should unite against them and save America. He's giving figures to try and support himself but really he's just using fear and scaring people into doing what he wants them to.
4. I think that this time in history is unfair. I think the government got the citizens of the United States to afraid. If the government wouldn't have made a big deal about it than things could have been different. But , im not supprised this happened in America. People say this is the land of the free. But how free are some people. For example there are many people everyday who discrimnate against muslums after 9/11. They call them terrorists and think that they all want to bomb and destroy our country. This event that happened in the 1950's is repeating itself in a different form. Its just like what people say " History repeats itself"
Hannah Aittama
5th Hour
First off, before i start this whole blog, let me just say, all this talk about major changes, and communism, and how it may, Revolutionize in america. well, it reminds me of the beatles Song Revolution. because in the song, it has many lines, many of which are potentially talking about mccarthyism. The Lyrics to Revolution, by The Beatles
"You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
all right, all right, all right
all right, all right, all right ".
I believe that the opening describes how McCarthy came to power, and it was because he wanted a revolution of all of those who were different to serve their punishment for being different. And I would find it hard to believe that senator McCarthy, in due time, would not have wanted to change the world with his thoughts. I can also believe that this has a underlying fact that McCarthy really wanted to change America, which would have in turn changed the world. and McCarthy really was talking about the destruction of those such people, who , most never did any harm, and as we have heard you say, many have been jailed for such actions. but the part of the line that states don't you know you can count me out? can be a direct reflection of those wishing not to be burdened by McCarthy, wether they were being tried by him, or that those people were his fellow senators. the part that says its going to be alright, is said by the friends of those being tried, because they know that, in time, everything will be alright, and their history will be swept clean.
in the second verse, i Believe it to be describing that McCarthy did have a solution to get all the Communist types out of america, but, alas, as we figured out, there was no real plan behind these "witch-hunts". I believe the line asking for a contribution, is when we had seen the start of McCarthy's Demise, because he possibly had to try to get others to support him, so he wouldn't go under. but the others that McCarthy Recruited were "doing what they could" whenever he was around, but when he was not, they went back to normal, because of the fear he imposed upon many of them. the fact that he wanted even more help from others, a lot of people hated him for these actions, and really, all they wanted to do, is wait this whole mess out.
I would also love to put money down on the fact that i bet he, at one point at time, wanted to change the constitution to his liking, and banning all those un-american thoughts and actions towards our country, and in turn, would have turned us into ma communist country ourself with that kind of thinking. And we know of course, everyone wanted to change McCarthy's Head, because, as i think of him now, he is a very radical thinker, wanting everyone was was not the term defined american, to leave, which is completely, and never will be something we enact. but, in the end, we didn't free his mind, but we simple put him as out of line, and no one wanted to believe him. and that was his end. I would also find it hard to believe that McCarthy himself was not a communist for thinking of such actions, and trying to enact them, because, in the back of his head, he was probably thinking of all those other communist leaders, like Chairman Mao, and thats obviously why "You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow", and thats why he never really had any support, because of his radical thoughts.
In The end, it was alright, and we were off to another thing that was to destroy us americans in a different way.
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I liked describing that, because i found that it made a lot of sense, and it had a lot of similarity as to what we are learning now.
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Now, onto the real blog.
i will put that in part 2 of my blogs tonight, so as this does not get deleted.
Nick Visger
nickvisger@mac.com
1. she was trying to protect the peoples names she would be asked to give. she talked about the 5th amendment becuase its says that she dosent have to answer any questions that she didnt want to. but she was concerned that if she did answer questions about herself, she would have to answer questions about others she knew.
2. Eric Johnson was a successful business man that was invovled in hollywood and accused of being affiliated with comunist activity. he worked as the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. he was sending the message to the commitee that there werent any facts to comunists in Hollywood. he said that maybe there was a very few amount but they couldnt prove any of it.
3. McCarthy expressed the fear of communists being in the U.S. he started a sort of which hunt trying to pick out communists from society.
personally im not really that supprised that this happend. it is though outrageous that so many pepole were getting accused of being communist. like we saw in the movie "good night and good luck", people were very troubled by McCarthism becuase that one man killed himself becuase he thought he would get interrogated. even today after 911 people get accused of being terrorists for no good reason.
Andy B, 6th hour
Part 2 of my blog tonight.
1. Read the letter to HUAC from Lillian Hellman and explain what her goal was. In other words, what or who was she trying to protect?
she was trying to protect a lot of people from McCarthy's random acts of proving people guilty. she was trying to not only, and obviously protect herself, but many of her friends and family from the scrutiny of these witch hunts.
2. Read the testimony of Eric Allen Johnston. Who was he? Who did he work for? What was the message he was sending to the committee?
he was a businessman working in the motion picture industry. he was trying to tell people you were basically scared into believing whatever McCarthy needed you to be scared of, and to scrutinize others.
3. Last, read the speech by Joe McCarthy at Wheeling, West Virginia. Explain the message that he was trying to give to those in attendance.
he was trying to get people to believe that there was an overwhelming amount of communism in our country, which was untrue, although here was communists, obviously not the amount he was talking about. and also the fact that they were trying to come to america, and change our ways.
Last, what is your opinion on this event in history?
i believe it was some hotshot, trying to scare people, and get his shine in the limelight. he boasted so many things, just to get attention, and also to get people on his side. but, thankfully, everyone saw what he was doing, and stopped believing in him
Are you surprised that in America this happened,
Why or why not?
right now, after learning so much about our outrageous selves, i dont see this as something america would not have phased through. mainly because if we are going to do something, we are going to overdue it. and McCarthy Surely Did that.
nick Visger
nickvisger@mac.com
Lillian Hellman was trying to protect the people she has been associated with in her letter to HUAC. Her goal was to make herself clear, that she was not going to falsely accuse for a lesser penalty. Eric Allen Johnston was a successful businessman who succeeded from Will. H. Hayes as president of the motion picture association of America. Johnston main purpose for his testimony that the percentage of communism in Hollywood is very small. For the government to have the decency to not broadcast communists, so innocents don't get labeled. His main point was pretty much we were doing a shitty job handling this issue. McCarthy was trying to persuade our country into believing he was right. He made it seem that he was the hero. He expressed how dangerous Russia was becoming, and how important it is to make sure were safe. He attacked the wealthy to make them seem corrupt. And he used apathy as an excuse. I'm not surprised this happened in America. this happens everywhere. It was part of apathy. the apathetic nation stood by and watched a single corrupt and powerful man change the bases of what America was built of. He attacked one of the worst feelings. Terrifying the nation into believing he was saving us.
John McLean
Mr.Kay,
Lillian Hellman's goal was to protect herself and others from this discrimination by pleding the fifth amendment. She knew she had nothing to hide from the government and therefor was willing to testify to the government about her own opinions and actions. I believe she was trying to protect others rights by saying she had no right to do so. But also herself by letting them know it was her right as a citizen to both to the government and Christian society.
Eric Allen Johnston was a successful business man of the 1940's. He defended Hollywood against attacks made by HUAC. He described to the committe that communism is and will always be around us, so there's no use in trying to get rid of it.
I felt that Joe McCarthy was trying to get people to see that communisim is invading the U.S. He also wanted them to know that things would only get better when people started to tell the truth and not make up stupid lies.
Lastly, in my opinion I'm not suprised at all that something like this would happen in america. It's a sad thing that people would discriminate people and acuse them of something without any proof. And, it's not just america that's like that either it's the world. We want peace and justice, freedom, and wealth, and sometimes we fell that the only way to achieve that is to get rid of all the things that are preventing us from it.
Brittney Cooper
6th hour
Lillian Hellman's goals were to speak for for herself only and not of other people. To her, the other people she was associated with were completely innocent. And she didn 't want to bring harm to other people for nothing. So she was trying to protect other people most of all. Eric Johnston was a succesful bsuinessman who became president of the Motion Picture Association of America. The message he was showint to the committee was that there were very few comminists in Hollywood. And that the committee needed to show their proof of the list of 8 movies that they thought had communist propoganda before they went and spread unsupported generalizations of them. I believe the message Joseph McCarthy was trying to send to those present was fear. And that we were surrounded by communists. This event, to me, is horrible, people were convicted of things that probably more than half of them were innocent of. And although there have been things just as wrong as this, it is still one of the worst things in American history if you ask me. I'm not surprised entirely that this happened in American history. Mainly because there have been worse things that have happened.
James Richardson
5th hour
1. the goal that she had was to answer questions about her self. she was trying to protect the innocent that the government might question.
2. Eric Johnston was a businessman that was very successful. he was the president of a motion picture association of America. he was sending a message to the committee that said that the things that publicity s saying were false.
3. The speech at Wheeling: the message that Joe was trying to put out in the open is that communism is growing.
4. My opinion on this is that i think that they took it to seriously. the government could take on a little group. Am i surprised? no, because we are country and as a country we will eventually have to face everything one way or another.
Alex Martin
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