RED SCARE

Impact of the Cold War at home

  The fear of communism and the threat of nuclear war affected American life throughout the Cold War. Senator Joseph McCarthy played on American fears of communism by recklessly accusing many American governmental officials and citizens of being communists based on flimsy or no evidence. This led to the coining of the term

McCarthyism

association.

, or the making of false accusations based on rumor or guilt by

DOT GAME

1. Students pick a small piece of paper from a plastic bag. Some of the pieces of paper have a red dot on them while most of the pieces are blank. Students are not to reveal what is on their piece of paper to anyone else. 2. The object of the “game” is for the students to create the largest group possible without any red dots. They may question each other as they form groups, but

they must not show their paper

the McCarthy Era.

. The largest group without a member with a red dot wins. Any person who holds a red dot and has infiltrated a group wins. 3. The purpose of the “game” is for the students to experience some of the suspicions associated with

Discussion Questions

      Who was McCarthy and for what is he remembered? What motivated McCarthy? What groups of people did McCarthy find suspicious? What impact did McCarthy’s allegations have on those accused? Some objected to McCarthy’s lists and investigations. Why? What impact did McCarthy have on America?

How did it make you feel?

 The purpose of the “game” is for the students to experience some of the suspicions associated with the McCarthy Era.

1.

How did the game make you feel?

2.

3.

Where you accused of being a dot?

Who was excluded from a group because they were thought to be a dot?

McCarty’s Downfall

     Accused U.S. Army which resulted in a nationally televised Senate investigation McCarthy’s Bullying cost him public support and Senate condemned him for improper conduct.

39 states had passed laws making it illegal to advocate the violent overthrow of the government.

Ex: Indiana professional Wrestlers had to take loyalty Oath and pedestrians on the street refused to sign petitions that quoted the Declaration of Independence because they were afraid the ideas were communist No profession was safe from the hunt for Communists!