The Cold War was a time of hostility and high tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 1960s. Although the conflict was known as a war, neither nation was ever directly confronted on a battlefield. With the fear of communist uprising and Soviet influence in America during the Cold War, mass hysteria and panic broke out in the U.S. This began the McCarthy era.
A Republican senator from Wisconsin by the name of Joseph McCarthy was the man who led this period of political persecution. McCarthy made accusations on U.S. government officials for being communists or communist sympathizers. He claimed to know 205 Department of State Officials with links to communists. Although he never produced a single name, and most of his evidence was false or fabricated, he still was able to convince the general public that his heavy allegations were true. McCarthy wanted political power and a Republican controlled Congress. He sought re-election and campaigned by achieving publicity through his accusations. McCarthy got support, as did the Republicans in Congress, by saying President Truman and other Democrats were being too lenient on communism. What McCarthy had said alarmed Americans, causing them to mistrust their own public officials. His claims ruined the careers of many. (9,500 civil servants were dismissed and 15,000 resigned). Threats of communist takeover sparked paranoia and suspicion of the United States government.
This Red Scare that Joseph McCarthy initiated did not only affect politics, but society as well. Private citizens were also weeded out by HUAC, the House of Un-American Activities Committee, which investigated the rise and spread of communism in America. Due to this, millions of suspected Americans were forced to take loyalty oaths and undergo hearings, trials, and interrogations. Many people were very hesitant and afraid to speak out against public issues for fear they too would be labeled as communists. Even activism by...