McCarthyism & Red Scare

McCarthyism refers to a period in the early 1950s when U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy led efforts to root out alleged communists in government and society, often using aggressive and unsubstantiated accusations. This climate of fear was part of the broader Red Scare, a time when Americans feared communist influence due to the Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union. Many people faced blacklisting, job loss, or persecution based on flimsy evidence or mere suspicion. Ultimately, McCarthyism represented a significant and controversial chapter in American history, highlighting the struggle between national security and civil liberties.