I will introduce the McCarthyism. I will identify it, discuss the important background circumstances for it, and assess the historical significance.
McCarthyism is that makes accusations of infidelity, subversion, treason and other crimes without sufficient evidence in the 1950s. McCarthyism also can be referred that it uses unfair assertions and use the unfair methods of investigation to restrict dissenters and critics.
McCarthyism that was the the political power of anti-communism. As the textbook states, McCarthyism was “best practiced by Senator Joe McCarthy, remained strong in the early 1950s as the figures such as the cross-dressing FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Bobby Kennedy, and Richard Nixon scored political points by accusing rivals of being “soft” on communism and thus not loyal Americans” (LP 257). For McCarthy`s part, he threw wild charges that the media and public ate up. As the textbook states, “McCarthy, shockingly, accused General George Marshall being disloyal and during the 1952 campaign, Eisenhower-a longtime colleague of Marshall-did not even defend his friend for fear of upsetting McCarthy- undoubtedly the most cowardly act
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As the textbook mentions, Charlie Chaplin was the famous victim (LP 258). Due to the fact that he had been an advocate of “ popular front” policies, the U.S. Did not allow him to reenter America in 1952 even though he did not join any Communist Party (LP 258). The professors and teachers also were attacked by McCarthyism too. As the textbook states, “Although universities are allegedly institutions where “academic freedom” is practiced” (LP 258), many professor still came under attack. The famous physicist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, due to association with people on the political left when he was young, the government finally withdrew Oppenheimer`s security clearance and stained his reputation (LP