Discuss red scare or mccarthyism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discuss red scare or mccarthyism - Essay ExampleAbridgement of civic liberties had had to be resorted to by the United States administration even during the Civil War in the 1860s, and even later. Many Americans had initially resented deprivation, or curtailment, of their freedoms by Abraham Lincoln, but they got harmonize to it considering the imperatives of preserving the Union and abolishing slavery. But McCarthy went berserk in his self-assumed crusade against communists who, he believed till his death shortly after his disgrace, had sneaked into the United States government. Maybe he would have got past with it, or at least got off lightly, if he had not spread his net of suspicion wide enough to include writers, Hollywood celebrities, and even public people and when McCarthy finally pointed an accusing finger at the United States Army, he met his Waterloo. But by then he had already done irreparable hurt to Americas democratic institutions. Little wonder, therefore, that ev en today McCarthyism is synonymous with crucification of innocent American citizens on the cross of unsubstantiated charges. It is against this background that the book, Give Me Liberty An American storey by Eric Foner becomes essential reading.McCarthyism is often referred to as the Second Red Scare, as the (first) Red Scare refers to a time in which Americans feared communist influence in the United States from 1917 to 1920. (Encycle Media 1990). Throughout the 1940s and 1950s America was overwhelmed with concerns about the threat of communism growing in Eastern Europe and China. Capitalizing on these concerns, a small senator named Joseph McCarthy made a public accusation that more than 200 card-carrying communists had infiltrated the United States Government. (Miller 1965) Though eventually his accusations were proven to be untrue, and he was censured by the Senate for unbecoming conduct, his burning campaigning ushered in one of the most repressive times in 20th century Amer ican politics. (Miller 1965) However, investigation of Hollywood radicals by the House un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1947 and 1951 was a continuation of pressures first exerted in the late 1930s and early 1940s by the Dies Committee and State Senator Jack Tenneys atomic number 20 Joint Fact-finding Committee on Un-American Activities. (Georgakas 1992). Between 1948 and 1956, or later, the government was engaged in political repression of the Communist Party, USA, its leadership, and others suspected of being communists. later the allegations that both assistant treasury secretary Harry Dexter White and Franklin D. Roosevelts advisor Alger Hiss were Soviet agents, loyalty tests were required for government and other employment, and lists of subversive organizations were maintained. (SourceWatch 2008). magical spell the witch-hunt launched by McCarthy against mostly innocent Americans has been both publicized and condemned internationally, its social costs have not rec eived due attention. Congressional investigations of the 1940s and the 1950s furnish the anti-communist hysteria which eventually led to investment of thousands of billions of dollars in a nuclear arsenal. (Navasky 1980). McCarthy