The key features of McCarthyism, and its rise and fall

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The key features of McCarthyism,

and its rise and fall

The term McCarthyism is named after the US Senator, Joseph McCarthy, the founder of this theory. McCarthyism refers to the 'witch hunt', the investigation and persecution of 'communist sympathizers', these are people who believed in or supported communism in the United States. Also the term is descriptive of the outbreak of panic and worry about communism that swamped American society at the time, also known as the 'Red Scare'.

American citizens, and politicians, followed McCarthyism because at the time, there was far-fetched hysteria over communist and fear of communist invasion of their country. Anything that was the slightest bit left or radical or even new could be seen as communistic. The US was fighting the war on someone else's territory over seas, and did not want the communists to spread to America. McCarthyism was invented at the peak of hysteria and accepted as the only possible way to prevent communism in America for many years. The Cold War had created a fear that democracy was in danger, that the American people must take drastic measures to ensure their on-going way of life
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The Alien Registration Act had been introduced into the United States and everyone who had the slightest chance of being linked to communist sympathies was required to register, or face being 'Blacklisted'. it was very important if you were asked the question "do you support communism?" back then, as it could affect your future, career and personal lifestyle. The black list did extensively affect people with influential power. This included writers, directors, actors and actresses who pressured film studios to produce movies promoting the positive ideas of the Communist Party. The perseverance upon normality and traditionalism was also ...

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