The purpose of this investigation is to answer the following question, “What impact did McCarthyism have on American society during the early 1950’s?” The main body of evidence will investigate on what events lead up the practice of McCarthyism, and why it holds negative connotations of government accusations on the society. Evidence will include eyewitness accounts of this practice such as journal articles and speeches from the time. Documents will be analyzed in regards to their origin, purpose, value, and limitations in order to properly evaluate the evidence. Documents include a list containing the false accusations Senator Joseph McCarthy made under his own reasoning as well as President Harry S. Truman’s response according to this practice. …show more content…
• USSR made it clear to the community of nations that they would expand their Communist ideology across the globe.
Espionage-
• Communists spies penetrated the U.S. government
• Spies stole the documents so that they can publish them
• With the help of a former Soviet agent, U.S. government was able to expose numerous spies loyal to the Soviet Union.
• Soviet Union built an atomic bomb, which led the HUAC to another spy hunt.
• Many spies were present within the American government.
Fear-
• Truman and his administration were getting attacked by many conservative Republicans for being too soft on the espionage
• Truman established an anti-Communist loyalty-security program in March of 1947 and set up the Central Intelligence Agency in November.
• Republican, Joseph McCarthy- o Took the act to the full effect o Installed fear in the U.S. citizens
♣ People feared their jobs would be lost
♣ Their political afflictions would reflect on their status o Challenged the Bill of Rights
♣ First and Fifth Amendment rights were suspended when on trail o Turned an anti-Communist nation o Claimed that he had a list of 205 members of the Communist Party of the
…show more content…
McCarthy constantly repeats his accusations that he has of the fifty-seven Communists who are working in the government, and suggests to the President that an action must be made. The purpose of this primary, private document is to see the interaction between the government’s relation in examining the nation’s security and acts that may be determined to be treason. The values of this document is to emphasize how times of intense fear and tension allowed leaders to rise to national fame and “push for restriction civil liberties in the name of national security.” It also shows a candid glimpse into the inner-workings of the government. The limitations of this document can effectively allow the government to take control of what the public needs to know. McCarthy sent this telegram in order to conceal his illegal maneuverings, or to maintain the image of the government