Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were American citizens accused of espionage during the Cold War. In the early 1950s, they were charged with passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. Their trial was highly controversial, fueled by anti-communist sentiment and a fear of nuclear conflict. In 1953, they were convicted and executed, making them the first American civilians to be sentenced to death for espionage. Their case sparked debate over issues of justice, the death penalty, and the effects of McCarthyism, with many later questioning the fairness of their trial and the evidence against them.