Alexander CekalaMcCarthyism and the Cold War
McCarthyism
McCarthyism took place in response to widespread anti-communist feelings in the United States and took place in the early 1950s. It was a period of accusations of communist sympathy that targetted the movie industry and state officials, but also attacked others.
It was led by Senator McCarthy.
HUAC
Many of McCarthy's actions took place through the House of Unamerican Activites Committee (HUAC), which called on suspected communists to testify. All suspects were expected to name other left wing supporters and if they did not they were often fined or jailed.
Even those who were not found guilty by the committee often found their life ruined, as they were unnofficially blacklisted and unable to find work. Many of the people called in front of the committee were innocent or had long since abandoned any support of communism. However, in the red fever that swept the country, they were treated as criminals.
The end of the road
When McCarthy attacked the army many of his actions were recorded and broadcasted on television. When people saw how brutally he acted he lost much of his support and in the end Vice President Nixon helped many others to destroy support for McCarthy.
People affected
People affected include Arthur Miller, Charlie Chaplin and Orson Welles.
The meaning of it all
In such a short report it's hard to show just how unreasonable the actions of the HUAC and McCarthy were, but I recommend you read more about it if you're interested.
For a fictional allegory read or see Miller's The Crucible, whose witch hunt represents McCarthyism.
Well that's it
McCarthyism took place in response to widespread anti-communist feelings in the United States and took place in the early 1950s. It was a period of accusations of communist sympathy that targetted the movie industry and state officials, but also attacked others.
It was led by Senator McCarthy.
HUAC
Many of McCarthy's actions took place through the House of Unamerican Activites Committee (HUAC), which called on suspected communists to testify. All suspects were expected to name other left wing supporters and if they did not they were often fined or jailed.
Even those who were not found guilty by the committee often found their life ruined, as they were unnofficially blacklisted and unable to find work. Many of the people called in front of the committee were innocent or had long since abandoned any support of communism. However, in the red fever that swept the country, they were treated as criminals.
The end of the road
When McCarthy attacked the army many of his actions were recorded and broadcasted on television. When people saw how brutally he acted he lost much of his support and in the end Vice President Nixon helped many others to destroy support for McCarthy.
People affected
People affected include Arthur Miller, Charlie Chaplin and Orson Welles.
The meaning of it all
In such a short report it's hard to show just how unreasonable the actions of the HUAC and McCarthy were, but I recommend you read more about it if you're interested.
For a fictional allegory read or see Miller's The Crucible, whose witch hunt represents McCarthyism.
Well that's it
