Introduction to McCarthyism

Warm Up• Answer the following questions in a 2-3 sentence response. You have 1 minute for

each question. • What motivates/initiates anger?

• “There is nothing to fear but fear itself” - Franklin D. Roosevelt

– What does this quote mean? Explain in 2-3 sentences

Is there a relationship between anger and fear?

It is often said that fear motivates people to be angry.

• 9/11: Americans were angry about this tragedy and took action out of fear that more Americans would lose their lives.

• Student fights: Students fight to prove that they aren’t afraid but they are still driven by the fear of their reputation being ruined for not fighting.

• Bullies get angry at others because they are afraid people will see their true feelings and imperfections.

• During Hurricane Ike people got angry at others due of lack of ice and food because they were afraid they would not be able to feed their families.Other Examples?

What can you tell me about the government in the United

States?

Democracy

• Democracy is defined as government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.

• In other words, the government is made for the people by the people. While people are not directly involved in government, they are represented. Who represents the people in a democracy?

Characteristics of Democracy

• Democracy rests upon the principles of majority rule and individual rights

• Democracies understand that one of their prime functions is to protect such basic human rights as freedom of speech and religion; the right to equal protection under law; and the opportunity to organize and participate fully in the political, economic, and cultural life of society

• Democratic societies are committed to the values of tolerance, cooperation, and compromise.

• Citizens in a democracy have not only rights, but also the responsibility to participate in the political system that, in turn, protects their rights and freedoms.

The economic system in this democracy is called CAPITALISM

• an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.

• In other words, individuals can own things and get wealthy. They have the ability to sell goods (anything you can touch – cars, makeup, shoes) or services (any service you provide) free of government intervention.

• In a capitalist society, you have a small amount of rich, and small amount of poor, and a majority are somewhere in the middle.

Another Economic System: Communism

• a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.

• (often initial capital letter ) a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.

Characteristics of Communism

• Government controls the spread of wealth

• Everyone is supposed equal. Everyone has equal things.

Economic

Systems

Capitalism Communism

1. Government does not get involved with the distribution of goods and services.

2. Individuals own property

3. You have an economic class system: upper, middle, and lower classes.

1. Government controls the spread of wealth/goods and services.

2. Property is owned for the collective/group

3. There is no class system; everyone is financially equal.

Answer this question to yourself and for yourself:

In a “perfect” state, which economic system is the BEST?

Consider this:

• Why might Americans prefer capitalism over communism?

• How might Americans feel about communism?

• How do you think Americans would feel if someone tried to force communism on them?

Game

• Object of the game• To begin the game, you receive a slip of

paper. Secretly to see whether the paper is blank or has a red dot. Then, hide it in your pocket and DO NOT show it to anyone during the game.

• Non-dots win the game by forming the largest group of students who are all nondots.

• Dots win the game by being the only dot in a group.

Procedures

• Once the game starts you will have approximately five minutes to form groups.

• You can ask others whether they are dots or non-dots, but players may not reveal their slips of paper during the game.

• You do not have to join a group, but you cannot win the game unless you are in a group of at least two people.

• You can be a part of a group only if that groups agrees that you are a member.

• If you suspect that someone is a dot, report your suspicion to the teacher. He will deal with the accusation appropriately.

Tips of Strategy

• During the game, you will have to ask classmates whether they are dots. Because everyone will deny being a dot, look for classmates who act suspiciously.

• If you are a dot, try to draw suspicion away from yourself and on to others.

Review• Procedures:

– Once the game starts you will have approximately five minutes to form groups.

– You can ask others whether they are dots or non-dots, but players may not reveal their slips of paper during the game.

– You do not have to join a group, but you cannot win the game unless you are in a group of at least two people.

– You can be a part of a group only if that groups agrees that you are a member.

– If you suspect that someone is a dot, report your suspicion to the teacher. He or she will deal with the accusation appropriately.

• Remember:– Non-dots win the game by forming the largest group of

students who are all nondots.– Dots win the game by being the only dot in a group.

• You have 5 minutes only…BEGIN

McCarthyism

• The use of careless, often false, accusations and methods of investigating that violate civil liberties (freedoms).

• Originates from Senator Joseph McCarthy’s hunt for “pinkos, radicals and Communists” in the 1950’s

• Sen. McCarthy accused the Democratic administration of supporting Communists during a time when America was in a struggle with the Soviet Union and growing Communism.

McCarthyism (continued)

• Playing on Americans’ great fear of Communism, McCarthy summoned hundreds of Americans to testify & threatened to brand them as Communists if they didn’t.

• Mass hysteria grew and the “witch hunts” began

• Several Hollywood writers, actors, and other famous people were questioned; many were “blacklisted” and 10 were sent to prison for refusing to answer questions.

McCarthyism• The Committee questioned Arthur

Miller in 1956, who admitted to attending Communist meetings 10 years earlier to learn about it.

• Miller refused to answer questions about other people who attended those meetings, and he was held in contempt of court.

McCarthyism

• He appealed and 2 years later won his case.

• McCarthy was eventually condemned by the Senate for misconduct and abuse of power.

Similarities Between the McCarthy Hearings and The

Crucible• Anyone

opposing McCarthy was suspected of communism and often brought before the Senate committee

• Anyone opposed to the Salem judges was suspected of trying to undermine the court & was “probably a witch”

Similarities Between the McCarthy Hearings and The

Crucible

• Panic among Puritans led to “witch-hunts” for the Devil’s agents

• Panic led to “witch hunt” for Communists

Similarities Between the McCarthy Hearings and The

Crucible

• Puritans feared the Devil & his agents in the 1600’s(Miller’s intentional use

of these similarities makes this story an

allegory.)

• Americans in the ’50’s feared Communism

The Majestic• A new love. A new hometown. Peter Appleton is

having the time of his life…by living someone else’s life.

• Jim Carrey plays Peter, a Hollywood screenwriter who stumbles into tiny Lawson, California, with his memory blanked out by an auto accident. There, he’s mistaken by the citizenry to be a long-lost war hero…an identity that Peter also comes to believe while restoring the town’s shuttered movie palace and romancing the girl he's supposedly left behind. It’s perfect life and, perhaps, the perfect lie. But the truth is bound to surface.