McCarthyismMcCarthyism

A special presentation made A special presentation made just for my fabulous studentsjust for my fabulous students

•How many people think that people How many people think that people wrote revealing information on the wrote revealing information on the questionnaire? Why? questionnaire? Why?

•How many people think that some How many people think that some people feared they had done people feared they had done something wrong?something wrong?

•Do you think this was an effective Do you think this was an effective way of getting information?”way of getting information?”

Ethics of this QuestionnaireEthics of this Questionnaire

• How many people were upset that How many people were upset that you had to fill out this questionnaire?you had to fill out this questionnaire?

• Why were you upset?Why were you upset?

• What do you think about the way in What do you think about the way in which I tried to get information? Was which I tried to get information? Was that fair?that fair?

Defect Defect

• Defect means to leave a country, Defect means to leave a country, political party or alliance to go and political party or alliance to go and join another join another

• to desertto desert

• Example: During the Cold War many Example: During the Cold War many Soviets defected to the USA. Soviets defected to the USA.

Prisoner’s DilemmaPrisoner’s Dilemma

• One dilemma derives from an situation One dilemma derives from an situation concerning two suspects questioned concerning two suspects questioned separately by the district attorney. separately by the district attorney.

• They are both guilty: however, the District They are both guilty: however, the District Attorney has only enough evidence to Attorney has only enough evidence to convict them of a lesser offense. So the DA convict them of a lesser offense. So the DA creates an incentive for each to confess creates an incentive for each to confess privately. privately.

The choices:The choices:

• If one confesses and the other If one confesses and the other doesn’t, the DA will grant the doesn’t, the DA will grant the confessor immunity (and will use the confessor immunity (and will use the confession to convict the confession to convict the other of the other of the maximum offense). maximum offense).

• If both confess, each will receive a If both confess, each will receive a moderate sentence. moderate sentence.

• If neither confesses each will receive If neither confesses each will receive a light sentence. a light sentence.

Who are Julius and Ethel?Who are Julius and Ethel?

• Jewish married couple living in New Jewish married couple living in New York with 2 sons.York with 2 sons.

• Members of the American communist Members of the American communist partyparty

• Accused of spyingAccused of spying

•Found guilty for passing nuclear Found guilty for passing nuclear weapons secrets to the Soviet weapons secrets to the Soviet Union.Union.

Facts of the caseFacts of the case

• Trial begins March 6, 1951. Trial begins March 6, 1951.

• The prosecution’s primary witness is The prosecution’s primary witness is David Greenglass. He stated that David Greenglass. He stated that Ethel typed notes containing U.S. Ethel typed notes containing U.S. nuclear secrets in the Rosenberg nuclear secrets in the Rosenberg apartment in September 1945 apartment in September 1945

Who is David Greenglass? Who is David Greenglass?

Ethel and her brother David Ethel and her brother David GreenglassGreenglass

Another key witness was David Another key witness was David GoldGold

David Gold- He was a chemist who had David Gold- He was a chemist who had never met Ethel and Julius but was never met Ethel and Julius but was given a jello box from a Soviet saying given a jello box from a Soviet saying “I come from Julius.”“I come from Julius.”

QuestionQuestion

What do you think happened to David What do you think happened to David Gold and David Greenglass? Gold and David Greenglass?

They both received a shorter They both received a shorter sentencesentence

• They both received a shorter They both received a shorter sentence. sentence.

• Gold only served 15 years of his 30 Gold only served 15 years of his 30 year sentence.year sentence.

• Greenglass served 7 years of his 30 Greenglass served 7 years of his 30 year sentence. year sentence.

Did Ethel testify against husband? Did Ethel testify against husband?

• No, she pleaded the fifth amendment No, she pleaded the fifth amendment as did her husband. as did her husband.

The result was that they were both The result was that they were both executed in June, 1953 leaving executed in June, 1953 leaving behind there two sons. behind there two sons.

DemonstrationsDemonstrations

• This trial was very controversial, why This trial was very controversial, why do you believe many people do you believe many people protested the fate of the protested the fate of the Rosenbergs?Rosenbergs?

• Do you believe this trial was fair? Do you believe this trial was fair?

• Do you believe their conviction was Do you believe their conviction was fair? fair?

TodayToday

• David GreenglassDavid Greenglass was released from Prison in was released from Prison in 1960 and lives under an false name.1960 and lives under an false name.

• His wife was never indicted. His wife was never indicted.

• In 2001, Greenglass claimed that he had lied In 2001, Greenglass claimed that he had lied when he testified about the typing activity of when he testified about the typing activity of his sister Ethel. his sister Ethel.

• He chose to falsely testify against his sister in He chose to falsely testify against his sister in order to protect his wife and children.order to protect his wife and children.

The Rosenbergs' two sons, The Rosenbergs' two sons, Robert and Michael Robert and Michael • They were adopted by Abel Meeropol who wrote They were adopted by Abel Meeropol who wrote

wrote the classic anti-lynching anthem "wrote the classic anti-lynching anthem "Strange FruitStrange Fruit.”.”

• Michael is an economics professor and Chair of the Michael is an economics professor and Chair of the department at Western New England College, a department at Western New England College, a small private college in Springfield, Massachusetts. small private college in Springfield, Massachusetts.

• Robert founded the Robert founded the Rosenberg Fund for ChildrenRosenberg Fund for Children, a , a non-profit foundation that provides support for non-profit foundation that provides support for children whose parents are Leftist activists children whose parents are Leftist activists involved in court cases. involved in court cases.

• Robert is a lawyer that fights the death penalty. Robert is a lawyer that fights the death penalty. His opposition is now grounded in his basic belief His opposition is now grounded in his basic belief that the death penalty is a human rights abuse that the death penalty is a human rights abuse

Robert is a lawyer in Robert is a lawyer in MassachusettsMassachusetts

What cause do you What cause do you

think he support?think he support?

Michael is a Economics Michael is a Economics ProfessorProfessor