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Difficulty: MediumDomestic Cold War and the Second Red Scare

Source: Waldorf Statement, Association of Motion Picture Producers, November 25, 1947

"Members of the Association of Motion Picture Producers deplore the action of the 10 Hollywood writers and directors who have been cited for contempt of Congress by the House of Representatives. . . . We will not knowingly employ a Communist or a member of any party or group which advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force or by any illegal or unconstitutional methods. . . . In sponsoring this policy, we are frank to recognize that such action involves dangers and limitations and that many people will fear that it step-steps into the field of censorship."

The policy announced in the excerpt most directly reflects which of the following developments of the post-Second World War era?

  1. A
    A return to interwar isolationist policies that sought to restrict European cultural influence in the United States.
  2. B
    The mobilization of the United States military to enforce containment policies within domestic industries.
  3. The growing impact of domestic anti-communist fears on American cultural and economic institutions.Answer
  4. D
    The achievement of a broad national consensus to protect the constitutional rights of political activists from government scrutiny.

Answer

The growing impact of domestic anti-communist fears on American cultural and economic institutions.
The correct answer is correct because the Waldorf Statement established the Hollywood blacklist, demonstrating how fear of communist subversion during the Second Red Scare led private cultural industries to actively police their employees and suppress dissent, even at the cost of civil liberties.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text to identify the author's intent and target group.
The text shows representatives of the film industry (Association of Motion Picture Producers) refusing to employ individuals cited for contempt of Congress (specifically the Hollywood Ten) or those who are members of the Communist Party.
This establishes that private cultural industries were actively enforcing anti-communist political standards.
2
Situate the text within its historical context of 1947.
This period marks the beginning of the Cold War and the onset of the Second Red Scare, characterized by investigations from the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and public fear of internal communist subversion.
Understanding the timeline helps connect the actions of the film producers to broader political pressures.
3
Connect the findings to the correct option.
The blacklist established by the Waldorf Statement demonstrates that the Second Red Scare went beyond government policy, directly altering the economic and cultural practices of private institutions.
This confirms the correct option as the choice describing the impact of anti-communist fears on cultural and economic institutions.

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Domestic Cold War and the Second Red Scare
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Domestic Cold War and the Second Red Scare

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