Out of that fear came Senator Joseph McCarthy. He promoted the idea of Communist corruption throughout the nation and even in the government.
Though all of his accusation were wrong, still he was supported by dozens of politicians who hoped to get into the white house. He accused many people of engaging in Communist activities, which made people afraid to contest him. He enhanced America’s fear of Communism, and encouraged the persecution of Communists in the United States. He was able to use this fear mongering to increase his power and influence in government. |
|
The House of Un-American Activities listed the names of people and organizations that they felt had loyalty to Communism, and were therefore believed to be disloyal to the United States. Those who were put on the list lost the ability to be hired by particular establishments due to their blacked reputation. Likewise, businesses would suffer, losing money from the public who feared of association with Communists. The system was quite unforgiving.
The reasoning for Communist affiliations in those days were based out of lack of faith in the government. Many citizens and businesses suffered through the great depression and in turn needed a way to get money and faith in leadership. To some that faith came as Communism. Many insurance agencies and businesses were developed around the idea of Communism, because the public was feeling the current capitalist approach in America was broken. Eugene Dennis, the known General Secretary of the Communist Party, had spoken out in his pamphlet ‘Is Communism Un-american?’ about what the party truly stood for:
“Our immediate objective is to protect the living standards and democratic rights of the american people and to prevent fascism from coming to power. We work to defeat the anti-labor legislation of the G.O.P and southern Bourbons; to promote the economic security of the people; to help win equal rights for the Negro people and full civil liberties for all; and to safeguard and implement the cause of peace.”
People were asked “ Are you now, or have you ever been a Communist?” They were persecuted for their former beliefs and shunned by the government for them. This persecution of people affiliations was a violation of their civil liberties set forth by the Constitution, in particular the first amendment which gives them their right to freedom of speech and expression. The right to protest was also somewhat violated. The Smith Act was passed in 1940, this made it illegal to conspire against the government. This could be easily misconstrued to allow people protesting the government or speaking out against it to be penalised. This also violates the right to assembly which is under the first amendment. If the government can prevent people from speaking out against its powers, then those powers cannot be kept in check.
Why had this not been stopped? Fear. The Soviet Union had grown, achieving many technical and political victories over the years. The idea of an oppressive super power over taking the United States was plausible and the people wanted to feel safe. Through this American desperation came figures who would subvert and manipulate the fear to fit their agendas. Senator Joseph Mccarthy was the most notable of any of them. He was one of the main pushers of the anti-Communist agenda. Faking information and lying to the public were only two of his tools of disposing of any opposition to his beliefs. One of his more notorious false claims came in 1950, he claimed to posses a list of officials in the state department with Communist affiliations. When he was questioned about the reality of the list he offered to show the list publically, but claimed he had forgotten it. No list was ever shown to the press, but people were so afraid of Communism that they overlooked McCarthy’s lack of foundation.
People like him ran the government into corruption. The effect was people allowed their civil liberties to be violated for their safety. This is why it is often easier to violate people's civil liberties in wartime.
Why had this not been stopped? Fear. The Soviet Union had grown, achieving many technical and political victories over the years. The idea of an oppressive super power over taking the United States was plausible and the people wanted to feel safe. Through this American desperation came figures who would subvert and manipulate the fear to fit their agendas. Senator Joseph Mccarthy was the most notable of any of them. He was one of the main pushers of the anti-Communist agenda. Faking information and lying to the public were only two of his tools of disposing of any opposition to his beliefs. One of his more notorious false claims came in 1950, he claimed to posses a list of officials in the state department with Communist affiliations. When he was questioned about the reality of the list he offered to show the list publically, but claimed he had forgotten it. No list was ever shown to the press, but people were so afraid of Communism that they overlooked McCarthy’s lack of foundation.
People like him ran the government into corruption. The effect was people allowed their civil liberties to be violated for their safety. This is why it is often easier to violate people's civil liberties in wartime.