http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/273188/House-Un-American-Activities-Committee-HUAC
House Un-American Activities Committee, otherwise known as HUAC, was a group that investigated communists and people that associated with communists. This group was established in 1938and was lead by chairman, Martin Dies. They accused numerous people and once they believed to have found one, they pressured them to submit the names of other communists or communists sympathizers. Some of the most famous of the accused were, Hollywood Ten, Elia Kazan, Pete Seeger, Bertolt Brecht, Arthur Miller, and Alger Hiss. They had many questionable techniques used to get their information and they were constantly on the headlines of local newspapers. After awhile the committee was renamed, then later abolished in 1975.
I believe that the HUAC was taken too far. Many accused the members of going against the First Amendment. Their tactics and accusations were sometimes taken to the extreme. There is a reason that so many people picketed the hearings and that this committee was abolished in 1975. The House on Un-American Activities Committee ruined many people's lives during the Cold War and I am glad the charges on the protestors were dropped. Those people did in fact have the right of freedom of speech.
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