Joseph Mccarthyism Research Paper

Wisconsin Senator, Joseph McCarthy, led a campaign, known as McCarthyism, in the early 1950s against alleged communists in the United States government, who he claimed were the reason the United States was losing the Cold War. Even though most of these government officials had no real connection to the Communist Party, they were blacklisted. This showed that McCarthy was successful in his attempt to persuade the American people. This speech was delivered on February 12, 1950, to a Republican women’s club in Wheeling, West Virginia. During this time, the Cold War had caused increased tensions between the United States and the USSR. With the USSR aggressively trying to push communism, American citizens were extremely suspicious, and easily …show more content…
(247-8) This is the most convincing part because power is known to corrupt. With this logic in mind, it makes sense that those who were better off, would be more likely to sell-out the United States. In terms of evidence, McCarthy offered the names of over two hundred alleged communists who worked in the United States government at the time; “I have in my hand 205 cases of individuals who would appear to be either card carrying members or certainly loyal to the Communist party, but who nevertheless are still helping to shape our foreign policy.” (248) The turning point of the story is “The reason why we find ourselves in a position of impotency is not because our only powerful potential enemy has sent men to invade our shores, but rather because of the traitorous actions of those who have been treated so well by this nation.” (247) This is the turning point because McCarthy makes the situation about revenge, not the arms race, or the possible problems Christianity may face with the spread of