Smith Act of 1940 1. Made it illegal to advocate the overthrow of the government by force or to belong to an organization advocating such a position
2. Used by Truman administration to jail leaders of the American Communist Party. -- 11 communists brought to trial in New York in 1949 and sent to prison for advocating the overthrow of the US gov't by force.
C. Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)indicts Alger Hiss, 1947 1. HUAC created in 1945 to root out communism during the "Red Scare" after WWII that lasted into the mid-1950s.
a. Committee was sensationalistic, including going after public figures in Hollywood.
b. Liberals and members of the New Deal targeted
c. Senate counterpart to HUAC also active in anti-communist investigations.
2. Richard Nixon led the movement to indict
