McCarthyism - AsherLev Research Assignment

(“Senator Joseph R. McCarthy Testifying”)

Eeshwar Parasuramuni, Ella Whitney, Miguel Silguero Miss HarringtonEngish II Adv 1A3 November, 2021

McCarthyism

Miguel

Ella

Eeshwar

How did Mccarthyism end and what developments lead to the end of it?

What group was discriminated against and how was the target group affected?

What does Mccarthyism entail and how did it start?

What were the consequences of McCarthyism?

How did McCarthyism influence the social climate in the US?

What events or people were the origin of McCarthyism?

When and How did McCarthyism End?

How did McCarthyism affect government officials?

What led to McCarthyism?

Research Questions

Eeshwar Parasuramuni

What does Mccarthyism entail and how did it start?

("Joseph Mccarthy")

The direct definition of Mccarthyism is the time period from 1950-1954 during the red scare. During that time period Senator Joseph Mccarthy conducted many hearings to uncover people who he suspected were communist spies. Mccarthyism came out from the cold war and the rising of anti communism during the war. The US was facing off against the soviet union, a comunist state. They believed that the Soviet Union was sending communist spies to overthrow the United States Government. This is what led to a direct rise in paranoia concerning communists infiltrating the government. The term has evolved into a synonym of defamation by making allegations with no evidence (Achter).

What does Mccarthyism Entail and How did it start?

("Joseph Mccarthy")

The timeline of Mccarthy's rise to fame started in 1946 when he was first elected and 1952 when he was elected once more. (Achter)

Mccarthy Spewed much antiCommunist rhetoric as it was the reason the public had elected him. (Achter)

More Info

More Info

The Second Red Scare

Fear in communism was rooted in the United States since the early 1900s and rose once again as the Cold war heightened. As the cold war continued Mccarthy rose to fame and helped the second red scare occur.(Pufong)

The First Red Scare

The first redscare was a widespread fear of Russians/ Communists during 1917-1920. This was much before Mccarthyism.(Pufong)

("What is Mccarthyism?")

Here is a video detailing Mccarthyism even more.

Video

www.genial.ly

info@genial.

Name and Surname

Eeshwar Parasuramuni

What group was discriminated against and how was the target group affected?

The targeted groups were a wide range of suspects but were accused with almost no evidence. The hearings were dedicated to normal citizen "Communist Sympathizers" as well as members of the US government. Not only that but mainstream celebrities were also targeted and attacked by Mccarthy and his followers.

What was the target group?

(Dalton Trumbo; Hollywood Ten)

The Hollywood ten were a group of ten mainstream actors and directors jailed for standing against Mccarthy's hearings Huac(The organization that proceeded with the hearings) heavily investigated the motion picture industry beliveing it was bustling with communist activity Many more people were blacklisted due to their supposed communist ties.(Pufong)

The Hollywood Ten

Regular People and the Government

Mccarthy couldn't compile enough dcumented evidence to condemn his suspectes as communist but he still affected many lives. Many people lost their jobs and friends and their entire repuation.("Red Scare")

The Army

Mccarthy went as far as to accuse the army of being alleged communists. Mccarthy suspected that the Army's Lawyer had once highered somone who belonged to a communist group.("Red Scare").

Eeshwar Parasuramuni

How did Mccarthyism end and what developments lead to the end of it?

The rise of Mccarthyism was very fast but so was its fall. After accusing the army and many people in the goverment the tide of the public opinion turned on him. This is partly due to the fact that many people's lives were ruined but also because of journalist Edward R. MurrowMurrow uncovered what Mccarthy had done and slandered him through his literary works.

The End of Mccarthyism

The Yates Vs. United states court case over threw the rul that anyone can be convicted of over throwing the government. Instead they need substantial evidence. The law that was put down was the Smith act.(Pufong)

Yates Vs. United States

After trying to defame Joseph Welsh, the army's lawyer, Welsh told Sentor Mccarthy, “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?”(Achter 27 May. 2021).

Welsh

Ella Whitney

What events or people were the origin of McCarthyism?

Ella Whitney

+info

In the United States during the early 1950s the American public was being fed information that communists were to be feared and that you must avoid communists who could be lurking anywhere in secret (MILLER CENTER). This overwhelming fear of communist infiltration was partly due to the Soviet Union making advancements following World War II as well as the adoption of communism in China in 1949 (Achter).

The Second Red Scare

(guyjohn59)

(MILLER CENTER)

-Senator Joseph McCarthy, 1953

"Any man who has been named by a either a senator or a committee or a congressman as dangerous to the welfare of this nation, his name should be submitted to the various intelligence units, and they should conduct a complete check upon him. It’s not too much to ask."

(Regent University)

Ella Whitney

Because of the United States not being able to combat the spread and influence of communism overseas, Joseph McCarthty felt this was a dangerous trend that could lead to communist subversion within the government, and he began a series of accusations and investigations against government employees (Achter).

McCarthy

Ella Whitney

What were the consequences of McCarthyism?

Ella Whitney

Consequences

Furthermore, McCarthy used his accusations in order to combat any who criticised him, which is partly what allowed him to continue for so long, because people feared facing condemnation (Pufong). In fact, over 300 actors, writers, and directors could not get work in their area due to the Hollywood blacklist set in place during that time (Pufong).

From his accusations many people had their reputation ruined or had lost their job (Pufong). This is because there is no way to prove that you are not a communist, and once you have been clouded in suspicion the cautious nature of Americans with regard to communism prevents some from regaining faith.

Ella Whitney

How did McCarthyism influence the social climate in the US?

(“Senator Joseph R. McCarthy Talking to Reporters”)

Ella Whitney

The McCarthy hearings were televised court hearings in 1954 which investigated the possibility of espionage as well as other accusations akin to a witch hunt (Achter). McCarthy eventually lost his credibility completely due to his lack of evidence during the trials as well as the criticisms from journalist Edward R. Murrow and the interference from President Eisenhower (Achter; MILLER CENTER).

McCarthy's Downfall

Ella Whitney

Since McCarthy’s reputation had gone to nothing it was then that McCarthyism came to an end and people were no longer as suspicious of communist infiltration. However, the previously mentioned anti-communist sentiments were long lasting and we can still see it’s effects today on our culture surrounding political discussions.

Anti-Communism

Miguel Silguero

What led to McCarthyism?

Joseph Raymond McCarthyLicense: Public Domain

-In 1946, Joseph McCarthy was elected into office. (Acther) -Because of his ambition for power, he took advantage of the population's fear of Communism (as a result of the cold war and tensions with the USSR). (Achter) -He used this fear to gain the popularity he seeked, but at the cost of others. As a result of his accusations, some people were forced out of his job. This was the beginning of his new actions, called McCarthyism. (Acther) -It may have begun from an outgrowth of the Red Scare and Palmer Raids. (Pufong)

The Origin of McCarthyism

Miguel Silguero

How did McCarthyism affect government officals?

McCarthyism's effect on Government Officials

After his reelection in 1952, for the next two years he was constantly investigating various government departments and questioning witnesses about suspected communist affiliations, including the "McCarthy Hearings". (Pufong)

In 1950, McCarthy claimed (in a speech) that 57 communists were involved in an infiltration of the state department. (Acther)

This practice of publicly accusing government employees of disloyalty put the target government officials in a very dangerous position, as these accusations had the potential to completely destroy their careers and reputations. (Pufong)

Title: Debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy Author: Photographer The Granger Collection Licensee: Supplier NTB scanpix Source: http://www.scanpix.no

Miguel Silguero

When and how did McCarthyism end?

• McCarthy, in an attempt to compete against Dwight D. Eisenhower (a more popular and well liked “war hero”), attacked people in his own political party using the same methods in McCarthyism. (Tanenhaus)

• This was a rash decision, as his lack of evidence to back up his allegations put him in a vulnerable state. And since Eisenhower’s efforts to involve the press were successful, every mistake of McCarthy was known by the public. As a result of Eisenhower’s strategic measures, McCarthy’s approval ratings dropped significantly. (Tanenhaus)

• This competition between Eisenhower and McCarthy was known as a historical constitutional crisis, since it was ancultural and ideological war within the Republican party. (Tanenhaus)

• Along with his competition with Eisenhower, it was also the press that destroyed him (as a result of Eisenhower's efforts), as they directly led to the lessening of his approval ratings (Tanenhaus).

The death of McCarthyism

Tombstone of Joseph Raymond McCarthy at St. Mary's Parish Cemetery, Appleton, Wisconsin. The Fox River is in the background. License: Public Domain.

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Works Cited

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