Why did Joseph McCarthy want to prevent communism after world war 2?

Answer 1

The senator from Wisconsin and a number of other people saw that Communism was dedicated to the overthrow of existing governments, judged by the writings and statements of Communist leaders. The means they chose to use to protect the US from this threat have been debated, and history seems to have judged McCarthy negatively.

Answer 2

McCarthy was a paranoid megalomaniac, who was deeply frightened by the establishment of Communist rule in Eastern European nations following the end of WW2 and the creation of the Warsaw Pact. He believed that the Soviet Union wanted to attain global Communism all over the world, and genuinely feared that the USSR was planning to take over Western Europe. Mistrusting the Governments of Western Europe (including Great Britain), he saw the USA as the world's last bastion against Soviet-style Socialism. In reality, the USSR was not interested in such aims- it's only territorial dispute lay with Japan over the status of the Kuril Islands, and the Soviet Government (even under Stalin) recognised that it would be economically unsustainable to envisage expansion of it's sphere of influence. The Soviet Government only became dangerous if it felt that it's direct interests were being threatened, or that a Western plot was brewing to try and bring Communism in the USSR down. But McCarthy was basically a sick man- he became unable to distinguish between where reality ended and his own fantasy fears began, and this led to acute paranoia on his part. He saw danger all over the place where there wasn't any, and really believed that the USA was full of Soviet sympathisers and Communist spies, who were plotting to subvert the US Government and usher in not just Communist, but Stalinist, rule. He saw everybody as a potential enemy- his own paranoia was a mirror image of that of Stalin or Hitler, and he acted as a rallying figure for other statesmen and officials who were similarly paranoid.

Answer 3

He is considered controversial due to his policy of McCarthyism. McCarthyism was essentially the practice of accusing people of being Communist and anti-American without evidence. This unjust practice sprouts controversy and makes Joseph McCarthy a controversial figure during the Cold War.

Answer 4

They were threatened because the other side would run them over with there scootrchairs. Also they were scared of there beans and big lips. They had huge stains!