Mccarthyisms

McCarthyism and its Effects on America

McCarthyism not only destroyed the lives and careers of many Americans but also the innocent image of the country. Senator Joe McCarthy from Wisconsin was the same as any man. But when he cried Communism the world seemed to listen.

Following the Cold War between Russia and the United States there came many hardships, such as unemployment and high inflation. These hardships produced a restless society. The society then looked for something or someone to blame (Fried, 39). They found someone to blame. Communists. Throughout the country there was a witch hunt known as the Red Scare. A basic idea was formed: Communism was evil. Anyone who participated in such evil was considered illegitimate and were to be excluded from such things as sharing ideas, and jobs (Reeves, 136). This fear of Communism or anti-Communism as it was called could be described as a type of "virus." When all was calm in America the virus would fade, but the moment a crisis struck, the virus came back stronger than ever (Feuerlicht, 35). Communism was a threat not only for countries overseas but a threat for America and its people. It was a threat on the American way of life, a bruise on the phrase "the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." (Feuerlicht, 45) And McCarthy helped spread this fear.

McCarthy and his ways challenged the Bill of Rights. "When free speech or due process are denied to any individual everyone's rights are jeopardized. Today's oppressors may become tomorrow's accursed group." (Feuerlicht, 154) And nothing is guaranteed more than the destruction of America when the freedoms promised by the Bill of Rights are denied (Feuerlicht, 154). McCarthy installed a fear in the people. But people feared tremendously the loss of their jobs. They feared that their political afflictions would reflect on their job status (Reeves, 99). By trying to keep America from becoming a Communist nation, McCarthy and his followers turned the country into an anti - Communist nation. A country that thrived on freedom and was kept in tact by laws would become a country that was moved by fear alone. Laws would hold no meaning and innocent people would be accused (Feuerlicht, 154).

Communists were everywhere. But they were hard to identify because Communism was a philosophy. There was no way a person could provide supporting evidence that someone believed in something (Feuerlicht, 154). According to McCarthy there were over 200 Communists in the State Department (Feuerlicht, 55). And some 57 cases of people who fall into the category of card - carrying Communists, loyalist of the Communist Party, or risks to the nation (Divine, 265). Despite the issue of Communists in America there was a bigger issue, Communist spies. Though the truth of the matter is that all countries spy and are spied on, even America. The shock felt by the nation was not lessened (Feuerlicht, 54). Communist spies were the worst kind because they were not the type that stole plans for new weapons they worked from within. They were the people helping us build our policy (Divine, 265). These Communist spies were also hard to find because very few made it easy and confessed to being a spy. One such a person was a German named Klaus Fuchs. He confessed to spying for the Russians while he worked on the development of the atom bomb (Fried, 120).

Many Americans lives and careers were lost due to McCarthy and his accusations. Hollywood's leaders resisted allowing politicians to regulate their hiring practices, but following the HUAC hearings the "blacklists" began in Hollywood. No one who was known to be a communist would be employed (Fried, 77-78). Producers started questioning their employees on many topics including politics and affiliations. In the case that the employee's answers did not fit with the Waldorf Statement which was that no known Communist would be hired, the employee was fired, or let go (Fried, 78). With one exception anyone who confessed, and gave the names of other "Communists" were spared (Garraty, 531). After the blacklists, and the scare of Communism films started containing only anti-Communist themes. Somewhere around forty of these anti-Communism films were made. None of them being very popular or profitable (Fried, 78).

The blacklists continued in Hollywood while in the Government offices more than 2,000,000 men and women were subject to loyalty investigations no matter what their status was. The investigations were also required to be done on any person who applied for a federal job (Feuerlicht, 47). Lists of subversive organizations and groups were compiled. Its members weren't even given a chance to defend themselves. If they belonged to one of the groups listed, they were guilty of "Sympathetic association" and were fired (Feuerlicht, 47). People even began to be punished for things they hadn't even done. They were punished for what they might do (Feuerlicht, 47-48). Soon almost everyone found their loyalty being questioned. Anyone who liked Russian music, had ever read or owned a book on Communism, especially those who stood up for equal rights of African Americans, and those who stood for civil liberties for Communists (Feuerlicht, 48). Even having a political opinion that was not popular gained you the treatment of a criminal (Garraty, 531).

No Part of Society was left untouched. Companies like General Electric, General Motors, CBS, the New York Times, New York City Board of Education, and the United Auto Workers followed Hollywood's example and fired employees for being Communists. In fact very few companies didn't