Running head: MCCARTHYISM AND ANTI-COMMUNITST CAMPAIGNS
1
McCarthyism and Anti-Communist Campaigns
Insert Your Name Here
Chamberlain University
HIST405N
Dr. Powell
Insert the Date
This study source was downloaded by 100000839495789 from CourseHero.com on 04-28-2022 03:17:39 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/68700099/576817-McCarthyism-and-Anti-Communist-Campaignsdoc/
, MCCARTHYISM AND ANTI-COMMUNITST CAMPAIGNS 2
Introduction
During McCarthy’s reign in the 1950’s, anti-communism sentiments brought fear in the
hearts and minds of the American people. The growing fear allowed political incumbents to
accumulate greater power and influence over the citizens. This era led to a profound change in
the legal rights and status of individuals as Congress subverted the principles of due process
while ignoring constitutional rights and restricting personal liberties. This period of fear
mongering permitted such injustices to continue as leaders wanting to further their political
interests manipulated the American people into believing that communist had comprised national
security
When McCarthy claimed that communist spies had infiltrated the state department, the
American’s fear increased. Following his speech, a series of espionage trials and convictions of
top government figures and leading scientists ensued. The trials resulted in the execution of
scientist Julius Rosenberg along with his wife Ethel for passing state secrets concerning the
atomic bomb to Russia (OpenStax, 2019). The McCarthy anti-communism trials served the
purpose of justifying fears that spies had indeed infiltrated the government.
In this period of mistrust, many institutions rushed to purge communist suspects. The
federal government initiated loyalty programs and uprooted anyone who seemed like a security
threat. Educational institutions also fired educators who refused to take oaths denouncing
communism. The purge also extended to civil rights institutions like the Urban league and the
NAACP for fear that they might be accused of subversion.
Paragraph 1 – Definition of Communist Nations within the Speech
In his speech, McCarthy spoke of an accelerating race of nuclear armament and the
expansion of communism from Formosa to Europe (McCarthyism, 1950). He accused the
This study source was downloaded by 100000839495789 from CourseHero.com on 04-28-2022 03:17:39 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/68700099/576817-McCarthyism-and-Anti-Communist-Campaignsdoc/
1
McCarthyism and Anti-Communist Campaigns
Insert Your Name Here
Chamberlain University
HIST405N
Dr. Powell
Insert the Date
This study source was downloaded by 100000839495789 from CourseHero.com on 04-28-2022 03:17:39 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/68700099/576817-McCarthyism-and-Anti-Communist-Campaignsdoc/
, MCCARTHYISM AND ANTI-COMMUNITST CAMPAIGNS 2
Introduction
During McCarthy’s reign in the 1950’s, anti-communism sentiments brought fear in the
hearts and minds of the American people. The growing fear allowed political incumbents to
accumulate greater power and influence over the citizens. This era led to a profound change in
the legal rights and status of individuals as Congress subverted the principles of due process
while ignoring constitutional rights and restricting personal liberties. This period of fear
mongering permitted such injustices to continue as leaders wanting to further their political
interests manipulated the American people into believing that communist had comprised national
security
When McCarthy claimed that communist spies had infiltrated the state department, the
American’s fear increased. Following his speech, a series of espionage trials and convictions of
top government figures and leading scientists ensued. The trials resulted in the execution of
scientist Julius Rosenberg along with his wife Ethel for passing state secrets concerning the
atomic bomb to Russia (OpenStax, 2019). The McCarthy anti-communism trials served the
purpose of justifying fears that spies had indeed infiltrated the government.
In this period of mistrust, many institutions rushed to purge communist suspects. The
federal government initiated loyalty programs and uprooted anyone who seemed like a security
threat. Educational institutions also fired educators who refused to take oaths denouncing
communism. The purge also extended to civil rights institutions like the Urban league and the
NAACP for fear that they might be accused of subversion.
Paragraph 1 – Definition of Communist Nations within the Speech
In his speech, McCarthy spoke of an accelerating race of nuclear armament and the
expansion of communism from Formosa to Europe (McCarthyism, 1950). He accused the
This study source was downloaded by 100000839495789 from CourseHero.com on 04-28-2022 03:17:39 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/68700099/576817-McCarthyism-and-Anti-Communist-Campaignsdoc/
