Internal Security Act of 1950
The Internal Security Act of 1950 was a significant legislative response to the rising fears of communism in the United States during the early Cold War era. Sparked by international events, such as the communist revolution in China and the Soviet Union's advancements in nuclear technology, the act aimed to address perceived threats by requiring members of the Communist Party and other designated "subversive" organizations to register with the government. It also included provisions to bar entry to members of these groups and allowed for the deportation or detention of suspected communists.
Despite President Harry S. Truman's veto, which highlighted concerns over free expression and the U.S.'s global image as a promoter of liberty, Congress successfully overrode this veto, and the act became law. In practice, the act was used only sporadically in the early years following its passage, and by the end of the decade, its impact had diminished significantly due to various court rulings that emphasized the protection of political speech. Ultimately, the Internal Security Act was repealed by Congress in 1990, reflecting a shift in the national approach to civil liberties and the regulation of political dissent.
Internal Security Act of 1950
Identification Federal legislation limiting communist activity in the United States
Date Became law on September 22, 1950
The Internal Security Act, also known as the McCarran Act, was one of the most controversial products of anticommunist hysteria in 1950’s America.
By 1950, fear of international communism had swept the United States as the result of a series of events, including the communist revolution in China, the Soviet Union’s acquisition of a nuclear device, and accusations by Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy of communist activity in the United States government. In response to perceived communist threats, Senator Patrick McCarran introduced legislation in late 1950 that would require members of the Communist Party of the U.S.A. and other “subversive” organizations to register with the attorney general, bar members of these organizations from entering the country, and permit the United States government to deport or detain known or suspected communists.
The Internal Security Act passed easily through both houses of Congress. However, President Harry S. Truman vetoed the bill on September 22, 1950, citing constitutional protections of free expression and association and the reputation of the United States as the standard-bearer for freedom in the world. Congress overrode Truman’s veto by large margins (248 to 48 in the House, 57 to 10 in the Senate), however, and the act became law.
Impact
The Internal Security Act was utilized infrequently during the early 1950’s to restrict immigration and prosecute suspected communists. Subsequent court decisions weakened the law, and it was rarely used by the end of the decade. In 1969, a Supreme Court ruling protecting political speech not designed to incite “imminent lawless action” essentially nullified the act. Congress repealed it in 1990.
Bibliography
Fried, Albert. McCarthyism: The Great American Red Scare. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. This documentary history of the McCarthy era examines the Internal Security Act from its passage to its eventual demise.
Schrecker, Ellen. The Age of McCarthyism: A Brief History with Documents. 2d ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. Contains numerous relevant primary source documents, including a list of “subversive” organizations and the text of Truman’s veto.