The McCarthy Era

1
The McCarthy Era

• The Hunt for Communists

2
Causes and Effects of McCarthyism

• CAUSES
• SU establish communist regimes in E. Europe after
  WW2
• SU develops A-Bomb quicker than expected
• Korean War ends in stalemate
• Republicans gain by accusing Truman/ Democrats of
  being soft on Communism

• Effects

3
Who was Joseph McCarthy?

• Most famous anti-Communist Activist
• Ineffective 1st three years in Senate
• Needed winning issue in 1950 to win
• Decided to sound alarm about Communists in the
  Government

4
Tactics

• Made one unsupported claim after another
• Various times claimed to have names of 51, 87,
  and 205 Communists in State Dept.
• Claimed Democrats guilty of 20 years of treason
  for allowing communist infiltration.
• Only made claims in Senate so could not be sued
  for Slander
• Republicans allowed him to go on b/c hoped it
  would help win them a Republican presidency

5
McCarthys Downfall

• 1954, made accusations against the US army
• RESULT Nationally televised Senate Investigation
• His bullying of witnesses alienated the audience
  cost of public support
• Senate condemned him for improper conduct
• He died 3 years later, suffering from effects of
  alcoholism

6
Causes and Effects of McCarthyism

• CAUSES
• SU establish communist regimes in E. Europe after
  WW2
• SU develops A-Bomb quicker than expected
• Korean War ends in stalemate
• Republicans gain by accusing Truman/ Democrats of
  being soft on Communism

• Effects
• Millions of Americans forced to take loyalty
  oaths, undergo loyalty investigations
• Activism in Labor Unions goes into decline
• People are hesitant to speak out on public issues
  for fear they will be charged as Communists
• Anti-Communism continues to drive US foreign
  policy.

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