Which of the following statements best characterizes the House Un-American Activities Committee in the 1950s? The House Un-American Activities Committee ended the era of espionage. The House Un-American Activities Committee kept the United States out of war. The House Un-American Activities Committee wrongly accused many people. The House Un-American Activities Committee questioned only private citizens

Answer on edge is

The House Un-American Activities Committee wrongly accused many people.

The correct answer is: "The House Un-American Activities Committee wrongly accused many people."

The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was founded in 1938 as an investigative committee dependent on the House of Representatives. It intended to detect and combat subversive behaviours observed in private citizens or public employees, or possible relationships of US population with either Communism or Fascism. It was specially active during the Cold War era. It worked also to uncover foreign espionage, mainly from the URSS during the Cold War, but it cannot be said that it manage to end espionage activities. It was dismantled in 1975 and its functions are now in charge of the House Judiciary Committee.

The HUAC many times used its power to call citizens to testify before Congress, without a strong evidence backup, in a very intimidating atmosphere, giving rise to dramatic and questionable testimonies. It was an instrument which created fear, distrust and was used for political repression.