Red Scare at Rutgers

In 1945 America used the atomic bomb to end the war with Japan. This action would change the course of history forever, as it was the catalyst of an ideological battle that pitted democratic ideals against the imperatives of national security, and led two world superpowers into an arms race to achieve an acceptable balance of power. The perceived threat of a communist revolution in America and around the world led to calls for extreme measures in international and domestic policies. Senator Joseph McCarthy was a pivotal force in creating mass hysteria during a time when Americans were required to pledge their loyalty to the United States and were called upon to report communists in their neighborhoods. If an American was uncooperative, suspicions and allegations turned towards that individual.

This United States History unit addresses the "Red Scare" era of the 1950s in New Jersey by exploring documents pertaining to the dismissal of two Rutgers University professors. During their testimony before the Congressional Committee in 1952, both professors invoked the First and Fifth amendments in their defense strategies. This move ultimately led to their dismissal from their teaching positions.