does anybody know what McCarthyism is?

Answer 1

Simplest answer:

It was basically a witchhunt for communists. If you were suspected, you could be 'blacklisted' and be effectively a 2nd (or lower even) class citizen.

Answer 2

McCarthyism is the term describing a period of intense anti-Communist suspicion in the United States that lasted roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s. The term derives from U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, a Republican of Wisconsin. The period of McCarthyism is also referred to as the Second Red Scare, and coincided with a period of increased fears of Communist influence on American institutions and espionage by Soviet agents.

During this time many thousands of Americans were accused of being Communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations and questioning before government or private-industry panels, committees and agencies. The primary targets of such suspicions were government employees, those in the entertainment industry, educators and union activists. Suspicions were often given credence despite inconclusive or questionable evidence, and the level of threat posed by a person's real or supposed leftist associations or beliefs was often greatly exaggerated. Many people suffered loss of employment, destruction of their careers, and even imprisonment. Most of these punishments came about through trial verdicts that would later be overturned,[1] laws that would later be declared unconstitutional,[2] dismissals for reasons that would be later declared illegal[3] or actionable,[4] or extra-legal procedures that would later come into general disrepute.

Answer 3

McCarthyism was the period during the 1950's when there was a Red Scare in the U.S. and it was also duriing the Cold War. McCarthy was a senator who claimed that he knew several Communists working for the U.S. government. During the Red Scare, many people lost thier jobs due to the suspicions of being a Communist. In 1957, claimed that a few Communist were working for the military. The goverment felt that he gone too far with this claim, thus they censored him.

Answer 4

McCarthyism was a period in America in the 1950's in which America was overcome with an intense fear of communism and accused people of being communist or sympathising with communist. What is special about this is that people could be vindicated by "naming" other people, but a refusal to answer even though protected by numersou US laws branded them guilty. some did time and certain blacklists in industries, particulary the film industry socially outcast them and did not allow them to work. The right of free association protects an american's right to be a member of a party including the Communist party, while the Fifth Amendment allows a person to refuse to answer a self incriminating question. Despite this anyone who did not name others or refused to answer accoridng to their civil rights were branded communist and traitorous to their country.

The term McCarthyism now can refer to a popularist wave of accusation at it's own citizens of a believed evil or enemy larger in their imaginations than reality. Also, the labelling of guilt without due process and the celebration of those that name others to save themselves over those that stay silent or hide behind their civil rights.

Answer 5

It relates to the red scare in the US.. Supression of individual rights, taking away freedoms etc. They were afraid that communism was spreading in the country and they wanted to stop it. They had hearings asking people if they were part of the communist party, and such. It was not a proud time for the US and our constitution.

Answer 6

yes, it is the systematic brainwashing by The Senator McCarthy when the cold war started that led to mass paranoia and government control all over the United States.

That really doesnt give it justice, you should look it up on Wikipedia.

Answer 7

It referred to the Communist witch hunts conducted by the "junior senator from Wisconsin", Joseph McCarthy.