Transcript McCarthyism and the Crack Down in the 1950’s

McCarthyism
and the Crack
Down in the
1950’s
By: Cameron, Mason, Gil,
and Justin
What Was The Cold War

The Cold War lasted from 1947 to 1991. It was
characterized by a sustained state of political
military and cultural tension between the
Soviet Union along with the Warsaw pact and
the united state and allied countries. This
began after the success of the temporary war
time alliance against Nazi Germany, leaving
the U.S.S.R and the U.S as two superpowers
with profound economic and political
differences. The cold war was so named
because the two major powers never meet in
direct military combat.
What is McCarthyism
 The
political practice of accusing people
of treason or anti-government activities
without solid truth. It was named after
Joseph McCarthy because of his vicious
verbal attacks on individuals he believed
to be communist.
Who Was Joseph McCarthy
 He
was born on November 14, 1908, and
died on May 2, 1957. He was an American
Politician who served as a Republican U.S.
Senator for the state of Wisconsin from
1947 until his death in 1957. He was
married to Jean Kerr McCarthy they had
one child they named her Tierney
Elizabeth McCarthy.
What Was His Downfall

Started when Edward R. Murrow started a program
where he would talk on any topic for 30 minutes. He
picked “McCarthyism” as one and showed a case
involving a loyal soldier who served in the air force for 10
years. He was accused of crime because he still had a
relationship with his father and sister who read
communist literature and placed in jail. This soldier was
released because people didn’t think he was a security
threat. After this aired, people started questioning
McCarthy. Later, more radio shows started talking about
McCarthy and calling him a “Political Bully.” then, there
was a case that was televised with the Army accusing
McCarthy for his wrong doings. Of all the TV's that were
owned, 2/3 of them were tuned into the case. This case
was McCarthy’s downfall.
McCarthy’s aim and methods
 McCarthy
seemed to be on a quest for
personal power. He accused many people
were communist, whether they was or not.
At one point he waved a piece of paper at
a public speaking saying it contained names
of government workers that were
communist, later it was found to be a
grocery list. If he had not done all this at a
time of anti-Communist fever and paranoia,
he probably would have been laughed out
of public life.
Who was his Victims
 They
were leaders and politicians who he
considered to be communistic. Like:
David Bohn, Lee Grant, Langston Hughes,
Paul sweezy, Linus Pauling, Elmer
Bernstein, Howard Da Silva, Gypsy Rose
Lee.
Sources
 http://sfxmiddle.wikispaces.com/The+Rise
+and+Downfall+of+McCarthy
 http://www.wikipedia.org