During the 1950’s, many innocent people in America were accused of Communist ideals. Joseph McCarthy was in charge of the bulk of the accusations by convicting members of the government, Hollywood actors, authors, and publishers. Many people lost their jobs and reputation from these events. Because of McCarthy's accusations against particular groups of people, and existing high tensions from the ongoing Cold War in America, people were arrested and blacklisted by others for communism.
Joseph McCarthy made wild accusations about people in America that had a lasting impact on people’s lives and reputations. During the 1950s, Joseph McCarthy spent his time trying to identify Americans who were said to be Communist, which was known as a dangerous political practice in America at the time (Lusted 32). If Joseph McCarthy had spent his time as a senator doing something more practical, many people in the country would not have become blacklisted, or lost their reputation. McCarthy could have spent his time doing something that most Senators do such as passing and writing new laws to make the country a safer more accepting place. Instead McCarthy spent his putting together a list of people who were supposed to be Communists. He went against American’s rights and was toxic for the American people (Lusted 32). Senators are supposed to be reputable people who represent a state well, but Joseph McCarthy did not achieve that goal whatsoever. Instead of helping citizens from the state of Wisconsin and all over the country, he was able to watch the demise of many people’s careers. In order to become a more popular member of the Senate, Joseph McCarthy told the press that, "I have here in hand a list of 205--a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department" (Roberts 16). Joseph McCarthy deceived the people of his state and was able to still earn their votes by creating rumors. This practice was utilized by McCarthy in order to make something which was unfavorable (the Cold War) be used in his favor. Although McCarthy added the burden of wild accusation of Communist beliefs among the American people, the Cold War was also inciting fear within citizens of America. …show more content…
The country was in the middle of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, so people were more prone to be scared of the ideas of Communism. The accusations from McCarthy made him famous (Roberts 16). McCarthy exploited the fear the people of the United States of America had about Communism in order to be elected as a Senator. The ongoing fear was a danger for the rest of the government and McCarthy used the government and the fear of the American people as an advantage for personal gain. The most recent example of questioning loyalty of Americans amid a war, was during the McCarthyism era (Roberts 16). Even though it has been nearly 60 years since these accusations, the American people have learned that witch hunts are dangerous. People realized after this happened that they need to be more careful about picking out a certain group of people for personal gain. America has not seen witch hunts during a major war since this time. During the Cold War, Americans during this era were facing many hardships. Roberts asked “When else in American history has the government questioned the loyalty of Americans during wartime?” (16). McCarthy’s Accusations were the first time something of this nature had been seen in America and the solution to solve these issues were unknown. The reason why it occurred for so long was because everyone was confused with how to handle the situation. Because of the Cold War and wild accusations made by McCarthy, there were many outcomes seen around the country. During the 1950s, Joseph McCarthy was said to have “trampled on the constitutional rights of Americans.” (Lusted 32). McCarthy was destroying the reputations of many people around the country. He even bypassed the constitutional rights of hundreds. He was a distraction and destructive in America. Another group of people who became a target of McCarthy’s accusations were authors and publishers (Theoharis 90). Publishers were
Joseph McCarthy made wild accusations about people in America that had a lasting impact on people’s lives and reputations. During the 1950s, Joseph McCarthy spent his time trying to identify Americans who were said to be Communist, which was known as a dangerous political practice in America at the time (Lusted 32). If Joseph McCarthy had spent his time as a senator doing something more practical, many people in the country would not have become blacklisted, or lost their reputation. McCarthy could have spent his time doing something that most Senators do such as passing and writing new laws to make the country a safer more accepting place. Instead McCarthy spent his putting together a list of people who were supposed to be Communists. He went against American’s rights and was toxic for the American people (Lusted 32). Senators are supposed to be reputable people who represent a state well, but Joseph McCarthy did not achieve that goal whatsoever. Instead of helping citizens from the state of Wisconsin and all over the country, he was able to watch the demise of many people’s careers. In order to become a more popular member of the Senate, Joseph McCarthy told the press that, "I have here in hand a list of 205--a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department" (Roberts 16). Joseph McCarthy deceived the people of his state and was able to still earn their votes by creating rumors. This practice was utilized by McCarthy in order to make something which was unfavorable (the Cold War) be used in his favor. Although McCarthy added the burden of wild accusation of Communist beliefs among the American people, the Cold War was also inciting fear within citizens of America. …show more content…
The country was in the middle of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, so people were more prone to be scared of the ideas of Communism. The accusations from McCarthy made him famous (Roberts 16). McCarthy exploited the fear the people of the United States of America had about Communism in order to be elected as a Senator. The ongoing fear was a danger for the rest of the government and McCarthy used the government and the fear of the American people as an advantage for personal gain. The most recent example of questioning loyalty of Americans amid a war, was during the McCarthyism era (Roberts 16). Even though it has been nearly 60 years since these accusations, the American people have learned that witch hunts are dangerous. People realized after this happened that they need to be more careful about picking out a certain group of people for personal gain. America has not seen witch hunts during a major war since this time. During the Cold War, Americans during this era were facing many hardships. Roberts asked “When else in American history has the government questioned the loyalty of Americans during wartime?” (16). McCarthy’s Accusations were the first time something of this nature had been seen in America and the solution to solve these issues were unknown. The reason why it occurred for so long was because everyone was confused with how to handle the situation. Because of the Cold War and wild accusations made by McCarthy, there were many outcomes seen around the country. During the 1950s, Joseph McCarthy was said to have “trampled on the constitutional rights of Americans.” (Lusted 32). McCarthy was destroying the reputations of many people around the country. He even bypassed the constitutional rights of hundreds. He was a distraction and destructive in America. Another group of people who became a target of McCarthy’s accusations were authors and publishers (Theoharis 90). Publishers were