Quoting Wiki, "After reviewing evidence from Venona and other sources, historian John Earl Haynes concluded that, of 159 people identified on lists used or referenced by McCarthy, evidence was substantial that nine had aided Soviet espionage efforts. He suggested that a majority of those on the lists could legitimately have been considered security risks, but that a substantial minority could not."
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(Many people were afraid too oppose McCarthy.) For nearly four years, Senator Joseph McCarthy was able to recklessly attack and falsely accuse people of being communists. One reason McCarthy was able to keep making false accusations was that many people were afraid to take a stand against him. They were afraid to oppose McCarthy because he would call them a communist or "soft on communism." During the Red Scare of the late 1940s and 1950s, a person's reputation would be ruined if he or she was called a communist. They would run the risk of being fired from their jobs. Former friends would no longer talk to them for fear of also being called a communist.McCarthy's downfall came in 1954 when he accused popular generals in the U.S. Army of being communists or "soft on communism." The army fought back. They were able to show that McCarthy had no proof to back up his charges. Members of the U.S. Senate also, finally, got up the courage to speak out against McCarthy. The U.S. Senate censured (scolded) McCarthy for his actions. McCarthy's popularity dropped. This period of McCarthyism (the smearing of people with false charges) was a dark chapter in U.S. history.
(Many people were afraid to oppose McCarthy)For nearly four years, Senator Joseph McCarthy was able to recklessly attack and falsely accuse people of being communists. One reason McCarthy was able to keep making false accusations was that many people were afraid to take a stand against him. They were afraid to oppose McCarthy because he would call them a communist or "soft on communism." During the Red Scare of the late 1940s and 1950s, a person's reputation would be ruined if he or she was called a communist. They would run the risk of being fired from their jobs. Former friends would no longer talk to them for fear of also being called a communist.McCarthy's downfall came in 1954 when he accused popular generals in the U.S. Army of being communists or "soft on communism." The army fought back. They were able to show that McCarthy had no proof to back up his charges. Members of the U.S. Senate also, finally, got up the courage to speak out against McCarthy. The U.S. Senate censured (scolded) McCarthy for his actions. McCarthy's popularity dropped. This period of McCarthyism (the smearing of people with false charges) was a dark chapter in U.S. history.
Americans showed the fear of communism thorough the McCarthy trials. The trials tried many innocent people for fear they supported communism. Students practiced duck and cover drills in case of raids.
President Eisenhower hated McCarthy because of his tactics used in dealing with Communism. He attacked many Asian-American people and caused teh second Red Scare. He even attacked the U.S. army in Army-McCarthy hearings, where 20 million people watched as McCarthy made an idiot out of himself and showed the people of America how irrational he is.
Senator Joseph McCarthy pretended to pursue communism but it was seen by many as a way of publicizing himself. He was seen as a demagogue who preyed upon people's fears and prejudices for personal gain and in the process destroyed many people's lives.President Dwight Eisenhouer said, "Senator McCarthy is, of course, so anxious for the headlines that he is prepared to go to any extremes in order to secure some mention of his name in the public press."
One of the worst results of McCarthy's accusations was the blacklisting of many entertainers and other people who would not testify and/or turn in their friends and neighbors as being Communists. Another was to intensify the fear of Communists among Americans.
Intellectuals and people in the arts, most notably actors, producers and others involved in Hollywood movies. Witch-hunter McCarthy later also claimed that the civil service was riddled with Communists. A Congressional inquest later showed that almost all his accusations were completely groundless and that many people who testified had been forced to accuse others under the threat that if they did not cooperate they would be considered Communists and traitors themselves.
It proved to the world how crazy his allegations were when he accused so many innocent Americans of communism.
Senator Joseph McCarthy accused hundreds of actors, directors, and screenwriters of Communism with his Hollywood Blacklist. Many of the entertainment professionals were barred from their professions.
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Like all Witch Hunts; Mccarthy caused desaster to many inocent blameless people!