Anti-Communism in the Mid-1900s Text Set Guide and Questions
Anti‐Communism in the Mid‐1900s Text Set Guide and Questions Topics Covered: Communism, the Red Scare, Joseph McCarthy Learning Goal for the Text Set: Describe the job of a cultural anthropologist using evidence from three texts. Text 1: “Anti‐Communism in the 1950s” Learning Goal for Text 1: Explain why some Americans viewed Communism as a threat based on evidence from the text. Questions for Text 1: 1. In the spring of 1945, U.S. Communists reversed their policy of reconciliation with the West. What did they adopt instead? 2. In the mid‐1940s, authorities found evidence of Soviet spy work. What did their evidence suggest that Americans had been involved in? 3. In late 1949 and 1950, a series of important events took place. The Soviet Union successfully tested an atomic bomb, a Communist army captured mainland China, and the Communist North Korea invaded South Korea. How did these events affect the way many Americans felt about the threat of Communism? Support your answer with evidence from the text. 4. Why might Americans in the mid‐1900s have viewed Communism as a threat to the U.S.? Support your answer with evidence from the text. Key Vocabulary for Text 1: treason, undermine, hysteria Text 2: “Internal Security Act of 1950” Learning Goal for Text 2: Make inferences based on evidence from a primary source document. Questions for Text 2: 1. According to the text, what is the purpose of the world Communist movement? 2. What means does the world Communist movement use to achieve its purpose? Support your answer with at least three details from the text. 3. Based on this text, what is the goal of the Communist movement in the United States? Support your answer with evidence from the text. 4. Read the sentence from the text. "Sec. 8 (a) Any individual who is or becomes a member of any [Communist] organization. . . . [shall] register with the Attorney General as a member of such organization." The Internal Security Act of 1950 was written and passed by members of Congress. Why might the authors of the Internal Security Act of 1950 have required members of Communist organizations in the U.S. to register with the US Attorney General, the main law enforcement officer of the U.S. government? Support your answer with evidence from the text. Key Vocabulary for Text 2: infiltration, treachery, convert © 2015 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Anti-Communism in the Mid-1900s Text Set Guide and Questions
Text 3: “Senator Joseph McCarthy's Speech before the Senate on June 14, 1951” Learning Goal for Text 3: Make an inference about Senator Joseph McCarthy's beliefs based on evidence in his speech. Questions for Text 3: 1. Six years before this speech was made, America was at the "highest pinnacle of her power and fame." What was the situation in the summer of 1951? 2. Based on this speech excerpt, explain whether Joseph McCarthy feels positively or negatively about the U.S.'s "present situation." Support your answer with evidence from the text. 3. Why does Joseph McCarthy believe that "men high in [the U.S.] Government" are involved in a conspiracy to ensure the "defeat" of the U.S.? Support your answer with evidence from the text. Key Vocabulary for Text 3: conspiracy, appeasement, concert (v.) Text 4: “The Communist Control Act” Learning Goal for Text 4: Explain why the Communist Party was outlawed in the United States, based on evidence from the primary source text. Questions for Text 4: 1. An "instrumentality" is a way to achieve a goal. According to this act, what is the Communist Party an "instrumentality" of? 2. According to this act, who prescribes the policies and programs of the U.S. Communist Party? 3. According to this act, what does the Communist Party deny to all others? 4. Why was the Communist Party outlawed in the U.S.? Support your answer with at least two details from the text. Key Vocabulary for Text 3: conspiracy, overthrow, prescribe Questions for the Entire Text Set The following questions should be completed after all the texts have been read and the questions for all the texts have been answered. Questions for the Text Set: 1. Why did Americans fear the threat of the Communist Party in the mid‐1900s? Support your answer with evidence from all four texts. 2. What actions did Americans take as a result of their fear of the Communist Party? Describe at least three different actions, using evidence from two or more texts. 3. Americans were justified in the actions they took against the perceived Communist threat. Argue for or against this statement, using evidence from all four texts. © 2015 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.