Select and explain the most important turning points in Senator Joe McCarthy's political career

Fred Salmon 11MO History coursework Select and explain the most important turning points in Senator Joe McCarthy's political career Joe McCarthy gained fame at the height of the 'Red Scare' in America, between 1945 and 1952. During the Red Scare, people were very worried about the rise of communism in the world. In 1946 there was the discovery of a large communist spy ring in Canada. It began to make people paranoid about communists in trades unions. At that time, Joe McCarthy was a senator for the Republicans; he was in direct opposition to President Truman, a Democrat. The issue of the Red Scare was an important way to get votes and many programs and bills were passed to stop the infiltration of spies and communists into American society. The Federal Employee Loyalty Program in 1947, and the 'Smith Act' of 1940, made it illegal to 'advocate the destruction of the American government'. This is when Mr McCarthy began his crusade against communism. In 1949 China became communist and the fear of the American people was growing. They needed a hero to appear to be doing something significant against the perceived rise of communism in America. With the discovery of the accused 'communist traitors', Alger Hiss in 1948, and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in 1950, the public consciousness was getting more agitated. McCarthy made a famous speech in 1950. He explained to the

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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What were the consequences of the First World War for the British people 1914-24?

Part B What were the consequences of the First World War for the British people 1914-24? The British people had to face many consequences due to the fact of the First World War was during 1914-24. For the British people there were many changes in society, economically, foreign policy, and the state, women's role in British society, the change in the political system and the trauma of the war and how this affected the British people. I will also be considering viewpoints of famous historians such as Arthur Marwick, Gerard De'Groot and many more and what they felt the consequences of the First World War bought upon the British people. For the British people there were many changes in society from 1914-24. The First World War affected everyone in Britain for example there were important effects on the labour party as they started to gain ground on the liberal party. The state intervention was greater then ever before they were a huge amount of conscription and food was being rationed. There were important steps forward in the emancipation of women, as the employment of women rose when the men went to war. There were major steps forward in the move towards full democracy as working class men were given the right to vote. Education was being improved as the working class people also got better living conditions, there was also a stimulus to aviation and broadcasting as there was

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Explain why the USA withdrew its forces from Vietnamin 1973

Explain why the USA withdrew its forces from Vietnam in 1973 America withdrew its last troops from Vietnam in 1973 but troop numbers were being reduced since 1969 after the election of President Nixon on a pledge of "Peace with honour". Eight years earlier in 1965 president Johnson had committed the nation to war with general support from the population who had come to fear communism. America was committed to Truman's policy of "Containment" of communism thereby hoping to prevent the 'domino effect' whereby America feared that if Vietnam became a communist country, other neighbouring countries would follow suit. They entered the war as the world's richest and most technologically advanced nation with an army that had been victorious in all previous campaigns. Their weaponry was advanced and far superior to the limited resources of the Vietcong whose soldiers were made up in part of untrained peasants and farmers. When America withdrew its last troops from Vietnam in 1973 it was not as a victorious conqueror but as a humiliated and divided nation. I have attempted to set out below the reasons for the US withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973. Despite its huge technological superiority, America failed to overcome the Vietcong army. This was due to a combination of American weakness and Vietcong strengths. The US army found itself fighting an enemy it seldom saw. Dense jungle with

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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How and why did the Cold War in Europeand Asiabecome more serious during the period 1961-3?

Cold War - Assignment 1 - How and why did the Cold War in Europe and Asia become more serious during the period 1961-3? Section A . Source A1 show a cartoon of Eisenhower and Khrushchev leading the Arm's Race with Macmillan and de Gaulle followed closely behind. The cartoonist is trying to say that Eisenhower and Khrushchev were in competition but also more advanced than Macmillan and de Gaulle. Eisenhower and Khrushchev are more advanced because they had built the 'A' bomb which Macmillan and de Gaulle hadn't. The amount of smoke in each competitor's torch shows how much power each competitor had in the arms race, i.e. Eisenhower and Khrushchev have the most amount of smoke and also the same amount. 2. The Lockheed U2 spy plane was used by the Americans on high altitude photographic missions over a Soviet air base. This was bound to build tension as the Soviets found the spy plane difficult to attack as it was at such a high altitude. The Russians would have also felt threatened as the Americans had now got a piece of machinery that the Russians hadn't. The Russians would have felt like they were one step behind the Americans in the Arm's race. 3. America and Russia both had different views and attitudes in the Cold War. America wanted a German peace treaty to be signed although the Russian's would not let this happen, their view was only to change Germany into another

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Life of soldiers in trenches in WWII.

The Canadian army during World War II is different from World War I, because by the time of 1939, it is unacceptable to separate soldiers by racism. However, Canadian soldiers including many different backgrounds, they involved the second generation German Canadians and a few Japanese Canadians, they formed a significant part of the Canadian army. Such these military groups render a strong defense in Canada. On the other hand, World War II also given Canadian women an opportunity to enlist in the Canadian military and to take on a wide range of jobs like nurses, but they can never be a roles of combat. It is because this kind of job is a part of Canadian military tradition since the Boer War. There are about 2800 Canadian women had been a nurse in World War I, continuing more of the nurses provided in World War II. The Canadian women carrying with a patriotic feeling, firstly joined unofficial women's service groups, where they learned how to do the basic thing and eligible for their physical ability; such as fix trucks, read maps, operate equipment, and the important job is to cure the militaries that are wounded. In July 1941,the Canadian government established the Women's Division of the RCAF ---- the Canadian Women's Auxiliary Air Force (CWAAF) due to the eager of the women who are voluntary become members in it and even accept to work at air training schools. In

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Russia: a Century of Upheaval.

Question 1 Picture this: the largest country in the world, the stretching plain, a land with important mountain ranges, a land that covers a sixth of the globe... This is Russia, a proud nation, with a rich and varied history, a nation that has, after years of isolationism we usually attribute to the USA, come out and taken its place as a capitalist power in the East and the West, yet, despite the social and political upheaval Russia has seen over the years, has anything really changed. It is true that a capitalist country is by no means always a democracy, but why is it that Russia, despite some huge political changes, is still viewed with a suspicion and scepticism that is usually reserved for the 'republics' of the Middle East, and the Backward, Stalinist regime of North Korea? Maybe it is because people remember what Nation inspired the north Koreans, what Nations leaders have become shining examples to the jumped up dictators of the modern world. The new world faces many problems, and many of them can be linked to the huge conflicts of this century, ahh, I hear you say, at last you know what I'm on about, the first and second world wars. Well yes, but there is another, more recent conflict, a hidden one, that has by no means seen as many deaths, but has arguably done more to mess up this world than the others put together. To truly understand we have to come back to

  • Word count: 6746
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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To What Extent were the Five-Year Plans of 1928-1941 Intended to Prepare the USSR for War?

To What Extent were the Five-Year Plans of 1928-1941 Intended to Prepare the USSR for War? The Five Year Plans were introduced by Stalin to help rapidly industrialise the Soviet Union. It gave the Governement an opportunity to implement economic policies into the country. There were many reasons why the Five-Year Plan was introduced, some of these reasons were intended to prepare the USSR for war, and other reaons had different intentions. The Five Year Plans that were spread over the years 1928-1941 were split into the First Five-Year Plan, the Second Five-Year Plan and the Third Five-Year Plan. Each of these plans dealt with all aspects of development such as consumer goods, industry, transport and communications and welfare, but each plan put emphasis on different areas. The First Five-Year Plan was introduced in 1928 and lasted until 1932. This plan placed emphasis on the expansion of heavy industry such as coal, steel and iron ore, and was proved successful despite the unrealistic targets that were set. This part of the first plan can be said to have the intention of preparing the USSR for war because heavy industry helps build weapons, means of transport and arms which are all essential when fighting in a war. However, although this part of the plan was a successs, it resulted in many failures within certain sectors in the Soviet Union. An enormous amount of waste

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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How significant of a role did Britain play inthe war against Germany 1939-45?

How significant of a role did Britain play in the war against Germany 1939-45? Britain had a very important role during World War II. It was the longest allied country in the war and was able to give many contributions to ensure Hitler's fall. Britain's influence started on the 3rd of September, with the German invasion of Poland. Britain and France declared war on Germany. Why was this special? Because this gave Hitler an enemy in the west. In fact Hitler was surprised by this turn of events, expecting Britain to stay out of the conflict. Hitler was very fond of the British and wanted to be her ally. By doing this bold act, it showed that there will be people how will stop Hitler from world domination. However, later in the campaign the British suffered defeat after defeat. Despite sending troops to Norway, to defeat the Germans conquering Norway in 1940, they proved to be ineffective and had to retreat. In the same year, the B.E.F (British Expeditary Force) were in full retreat from the German guns, tanks and planes. Over 300000 had to leave France via Dunkirk. Despite what the newspapers said, the British army was running away from the superior German army, leaving behind their guns, tanks and the rest of their equipment on the shores of France. However, France, USSR and USA made little, if no contribution to the war at this stage. France was quickly defeated by German

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Changes in the last 100 years.

Changes in the last 100 years. The Hindenburg Disaster. Notes:The Hindenburg disaster took place on 6 May 1937 as the German rigid airship Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed within one minute while attempting to dock with its mooring mast at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station which is located adjacent to the Boro of Lakehurst in Manchester, New Jersey. Of the 97 people on board, 35 people died in addition to one fatality on the ground At 7:25 p.m. local time, the Hindenburg caught fire and quickly became engulfed in flames Where the fire started is controversial; several witnesses on the port side saw yellow-red flames first just forward of the top fin, around the vent of cell 4.Other witnesses on the port side noted the fire actually began just ahead of the horizontal port fin, only then followed by flames in front of the upper fin Who/what?- German rigid airship Hindenburg caught fire Why?-Most current analysis of the fire assumes ignition due to some form of electricity as the cause. However, there is still much controversy over whether the fabric skin of the airship, or rather the hydrogen used for buoyancy, was the initial fuel for the resulting fire. Where?-Lakehurst Naval Air Station which is located adjacent to the Boro of Lakehurst in Manchester, New Jersey When?-6 May 1937 at 7:25 p.m Amelia Earhart disappears. Notes:Amelia Mary Earhart born July 24, 1897

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Extent of American Unity and Identity.

Emily Hannan A.P. U.S. 9/17/02 DBQ - Extent of American Unity and Identity Since early colonization the English colonies had always felt closer to England than to each other. In fact, it took a British newspaper less time to reach Savannah than a letter from Massachusetts. However, after the French and Indian War a sense of unity began to permeate through the colonies as a result of British acts. For every British action there was an American reaction, which fed the spirit of a new identity as Americans, not English colonists. The American identity was being established in the years before the revolution, but it was not the majority as some colonists stayed loyal to the King. Events such as the Albany Plan, Boston Tea Party and the First Continental Congress were the beginnings of a new nation as united Americans. These events would eventually lead up to the Revolution when American colonies would band together and establish themselves independently among the European world. As tension rose between the colonists and the French, the first attempt for colonial union took place in Albany, New York. Seven colonies met to discuss their common problems such as the Indian attacks, their colonial militias, and the colonies' boundaries. Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan that would unite the colonies under a central government with a "president general" that would

  • Word count: 1675
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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