Primary Sources: Cunningham, Jesse G., Laura K. Egendorf, editors. The McCarthy Hearings. Greenhaven Press, 2003. Print. This primary source edited by Jesse G. Cunningham and Laura K. Egendorf is a series of articles written by eyewitnesses who were called to testify in some relation to the McCarthy Trials or other court cases. The book goes into great depth to analyze McCarthy’s methods and to assess McCarthy and McCarthyism. This source was fantastic for providing more than enough eyewitness testimonies and first hand insight to the trauma caused by McCarthy in the government and society. This source added the project because it highlighted McCarthy’s tactics and gave direct insite to the court cases that went on during that time period. …show more content…
The source added to the research project because it showed the effect on those accused of Communist affiliation. “Joseph R. McCarthy: A Featured Biography.” U.S. Senate: Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, 12 Jan. 2017, www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Featured_Bio_McCarthy.htm. This source by the United States Senate gave a brief biography of Joseph McCarthy and the main points in his career as a United States Senator. It highlighted the basic events such as when he was elected Senator, when he gave his speech, and when his career ended in the Army-McCarthy hearings. The main purpose of this article toward the project was to verify the validity of the information received in other sources. In addition, it gave a few dates that were included in the timeline. This source neither changed or reinforced the position of the argument because it was mainly composed of basic facts about McCarthy. "Mccarthy, Joseph R." Britannica Biographies, 3/1/2012, p. 1. EBSCOhost, …show more content…
“It's Okay - We're Hunting Communists.” Library of Congress, 31 Oct. 1947, www.loc.gov/pictures/item/00652190 Mccarthy in Army-Mccarthy Hearings American Politician Joseph Mccarthy (1908 ? 1957), Republican Senator from Wisconsin, Testifies against the US Army during the Army-Mccarthy Hearings, Washington, DC, June 9, 1954. Mccarthy Stands Before a Map Which Charts Communist Activity in the United States. (Photo by Getty Images) -- Image Date: 09/06/1954 -- Image Date: 09/06/1954." 06 Sept. 1954. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=him&AN=imh229037&authtype=geo&geocustid=ns145344&site=ehost-live&scope=site. United States Central Intelligence Agency. Application of Soviet pressure, -53. [Washington, D.C.: Central Intelligence Agency, 1978] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, (-- removed HTML --) . United States Central Intelligence Agency. Changing face of Europe and colonial tension, late. [Washington, D.C.: Central Intelligence Agency, 1945] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, (-- removed HTML --)
In 1954, McCarthy turned his attention from the federal government towards exposing the supposed communist infiltration of the armed services. McCarthy launched his “Army-McCarthy Hearings,” but these hearings were different, they were broadcast on national television from April to June. Hearing after hearing, McCarthy invulnerability reputation began to disappear. First, the army services had undermined the Senators credibility by “showing evidence that [McCarthy] had tried to win preferential treatment for his aides when they were drafted” (“Army-McCarthy Hearings”). Then, the public came to notice that McCarthy used aggressive measure to interrogate witnesses, especially when he was interrogating a young Army Lawyer.
Senator McCarthy developed his power based on the fears of Americans, demonstrating the growing concern that was overpowering the country. However, many of these fears were exaggerated, as many of these accusations were false. Though some of the fears of Americans were valid, many were inflated and led only to more
In the 1940 's and 1950 's, an anti-Communist movement swept the United States of America. Fueled by the anti-Communist actions of Congress, particularly a Senator from Wisconsin by the name of Joseph McCarthy, the movement escalated and many people lost their jobs as a result of various blacklists. Congressional hearings, both in front of HUAC and McCarthy Senate committee were a study in organized persecution. The actions taken during the "Red Scare" were eventually given the general name McCarthyism. McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence.
After the army made public Cohn's attempts to pressure the military on March 11, 1954, McCarthy retaliated by accusing the army of attempting to prevent Schine from exposing communists in the military.” (McCarthy Hearings) This proves that one of the most popular politicians during the 1950’s was ready to make an accusation against the U.S. Army
These years are often referred to as the “McCarthy era”, named after a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin who blamed many of his colleagues of Communist subversion. In many cases, defendants were pitted against their own friends, whose only evidence were their words. Cultural and racial bias ran rampant, and often those accused of a crime against the country, such as espionage or conspiracy of espionage, were not given fair trials. In one such case, a husband
Three Reasons why Abigail, John, and Reverend Parris are to Blame for the Commotion Within Arthur Miller's Crucible During the Cold War between 1947-1991, immense amounts of tension arose between the two superpowers of the world: The United States and the Soviet Union. With the Rapid introduction of Nuclear weapons by the U.S. in WWII, the Soviet Union quickly attained their own weapons of catastrophe. Thus, these two looming superpowers, for over 50 years, sat trembling under the threat of the other. During these years of torrent, intense rumor came about over the fact that there might possibly be Soviet sympathizers within the U.S. gathering intel for the Soviets benefit.
Joseph McCarthy used the fear of the communist accusations as a medium gain political power to the detriment of the others. Miller reflects this idea through the characterisation of Danforth who is conveyed as a figure who values his own reputation over
Sarah Paroya D period I hate MUSH The end of World War II should have marked a period of relief in America but instead, it lead America into a completely different type of war called the Cold War. The Cold War was an ongoing state of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. This constant state of tension and fear had been embedded deep in the American public.
Response to Senator McCarthy’s “Enemies From Within Speech” With anti-communism being the dominant political issue during the Cold War, hysteria and paranoia spread throughout the minds of Americans. The “Enemies From Within Speech” delivered at Wheeling, West Virginia in 1950 by Senator Joseph McCarthy focused on worsening that national fear. Senator McCarthy used ethos, metaphor, and hyperbole to create the notion of disloyalty within the federal government. In order to persuade the American public in a convincing way, Senator McCarthy appeals to their ethics.
McCarthy manipulated the media, told outrageous stories about the communist conspiracy in the United States, and used his power and America’s fear to besmirch any opponents as “communist sympathizers” to make sure he remained at the top. Actually, most conservative members of Congress supported McCarthy because it helped them gain votes during elections. The majority of McCarthy 's movement attacked liberals and members of the Democratic Party and this aided anyone who was not part of those topics and organizations. Then McCarthy began to target the Army because they wouldn’t favor David Schine, one of his former investigators, who had been drafted in. “Senator Joseph McCarthy began hearings investigating the United States Army, which he charged with being ‘soft’ on communism.
McCarthy created the uproar of having a ‘witch hunt’ on communists in America. His influence on the people gave him credibility when he accused those innocent people. “He cited 81 cases that day. He skipped several numbers, and for some cases repeated the same flimsy information. He proved nothing, but the Senate called for a full investigation.”(ushistory.org).
The Soviet Union was on the verge of a nuclear war, so McCarthy put fear in everyone because no one had any idea who was a communist and who was not. He made everyone afraid to trust people, even the friends other had. They were afraid that they would be accused
Almost every kid in school has read a passage or a story, and never really understood the purpose of learning the topic in school. The teachers expect us to do the work, and hopefully understand it, but we never truly understand why we learned such a topic or event. The Crucible is a prime example on what students read in school, or why we’re obligated to read the book. The crucible and McCarthyism have many similarities that many people over look, and don’t realize, and connects more than we perceive. Books like the crucible and McCarthy are historical events, many schools have very few books based on historical events, which is why teachers spend more time on them.
It brought hysteria and an increased amount of public attention, which McCarthy thrived on. McCarthy caused unlawful and unconstitutional action against the public, especially those who are suspected of being a communist. His attacks toward the government lead to the first televised hearings, which will soon make him lose all of his political power. Joseph McCarthy alleged the Army Signal Corps, about the espionage ring, but found no evidence whatsoever. When the trials began on April 22 through June 17, 1954, McCarthy established a chair so that the hearings could move forward, but with frequent disruptions from McCarthy or his “point of order” made him the subject of the courtroom.
Arthur Miller used his storytelling to discretely show the US leadership that decisions made in fear were dangerous. Miller in his story had a quote about how “Until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven.” stating the the Americans may like how the situation is being dealt with but it will eventually cause terrible trouble. McCarthy was making decisions made in fear and it was hurting the US and in fact made it so that if Miller wrote his opinion without hiding it behind a story he too would have been punished and arrested. It can be assured that Miller would have just written his opinion in its raw form if McCarthyism wasn’t a factor.