February 9, 1950 J. McCarthy gave a speech

to the Senate, “205 card carrying communists had infiltrated the US government” – cited 81 cases

Senate called for a full investigation

“witch hunt” ensues

Rosenbergs

Government officials, entertainers, union officials, educators https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJzV6-wJ3SQ Hollywood 10

"Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist party?“

McCarthy started accusing high level officials such as Dean Acheson and George Marshall

Federal Employees Loyalty and Security Program

McCarran Act

The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)

McCarthy's accusations went on into 1954, when the Wisconsin senator focused on the United States Army.

For eight weeks, in televised hearings, McCarthy interrogated army officials, including many decorated war heroes.

"At long last, have you no sense of decency left?“

McCarthy died in 57’

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men , Murrow CBS Newscaster

McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence.

Fears that children would be corrupted by the "communist" practices depicted in Robin Hood led many schools and libraries to ban the classic tale about taking from the rich to give to the poor.

state legislatures and school boards mimicked McCarthy and HUAC. Thousands of people lost their jobs and had their reputations tarnished.

the AFL (American Federation of Labor) and the CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) merged in 1955 to close ranks

No politician could consider opening trade with China or withdrawing from Southeast Asia without being branded a communist

Don't criticize the United States. Don't be different. Just conform.

Sir, I detest, I abhor their [communists'] philosophy, but I detest more than that their tactics, which are those of the fifth column, and are dishonest, but at the same time I never as a citizen want to see our country become urged, by either fear or resentment of this group, that we ever compromise with any of our democratic principles through that fear or resentment. I still think that democracy can do it.

many of the accused had attended party rallies 15 or more years before the hearings — it had been fashionable to do so in the 1930s.

Soviet spy ring did penetrate the highest levels of the American government, the vast majority of the accused were innocent victims

It is now evident that the present Administration has fully embraced, for political advantage, McCarthyism. I am not referring to the Senator from Wisconsin. He is only important in that his name has taken on the dictionary meaning of the word. It is the corruption of truth, the abandonment of the due process law. It is the use of the big lie and the unfounded accusation against any citizen in the name of Americanism or security. It is the rise to power of the demagogue who lives on untruth; it is the spreading of fear and the destruction of faith in every level of society, Truman

56’ Slochower v. BOE – firing 5th amendment

57’ Yates v. US – reversed convictions

57’ Watkins v. US – contempt congress

58’ Kent v. Dulles - passports