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The Red Scare - Alger Hiss Mock Trial

  • Writer: Rosie Jayde Uyola
    Rosie Jayde Uyola
  • 6 days ago
  • 2 min read

Updated: 4 days ago


HUAC




Red Scare & McCarthyism




Taft-Hartley Act




Hollywood 10



Simulation:

  1. You need to determine whether or not they believe Alger Hiss is guilty for having affiliation with the Communist Party. They will determine this guilt by evaluating the included evidence handout.

  2. Nixon’s strong opposition against communism allowed him to gain national recognition.

  3. As you evaluate, use the simulation handout to keep track of the evidence and weigh how much guilt each piece of evidence provides.


  1. After evaluating all 6 pieces of evidence, you will write on the handout a claim about Hiss’ guilt and an explanation of your claim.




Plot Twist - "Pumpkin Papers"



  1. Students make a new claim (if needed) after learning about the Pumpkin Papers

    evidence.

  2. After students have determined Alger Hiss’ guilt of being affiliated with the

    Communist Party, we will engage in a whole classroom debate.

  3. Students should argue (with evidence) about whether or not Hiss is guilty of his “crime.”



Debate Rules

  1. Debates typically follow a very specific format and set of rules to make sure that everyone has equal opportunities to argue their positions.

  2. Groups MUST stay within the given time limits (going over time is an automatic loss)



Debate Ends: Winner of the debate is determined by using the Debate Rubric.


Team A has 3 minutes to

present their position.

Team B has 3 minutes to

present their position.

Break: Each team has 5 minutes to

prepare a 2-minute rebuttal.

Team A has 2 minutes to

present their rebuttal.

Team B has 2 minutes to

present their rebuttal.

Break: Each team has 3 minutes to

prepare a 1-minutes closing statement.

Team A has 1 minute to

present their rebuttal.

Team B has 1 minute to

present their rebuttal.







Discussion:

  1. Is it illegal to be a communist in the US?

  2. Does the 1st amendment protects your ability to be a member of the Communist Party?

  3. Is HUAC legal and valid?

  4. What evidence does the trial rely on?


Fate of Alger Hiss

Hiss was convicted of perjury. If students look back at the evidence, they will find text that suggests that Hiss lied under oath.



Exit Ticket:

  1. Was the sentencing fair?

  2. How might the American public have reacted when they learned that a government

    official had communist ties?

  3. Would Hiss have received similar treatment during a different time period?

  4. What other times in American history have individual rights been threatened by the

    federal government?




 
 

“Our histories never unfold in isolation. We cannot truly tell what we consider to be our own histories without knowing the other stories. And often we discover that those other stories are actually our own stories.”

​

Angela Y. Davis

Thank you for contacting Rosie Jayde Uyola

© 2035 by Rosie Jayde Uyola

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