research sources
Reeves, Thomas C. "McCarthyism." World Book Online Reference Center. 2006. [Date of access. 10-3-06] .
As Communism appeared more and more threatening, the federal government began to search for secret Communists among its employees. In 1947, President Harry S. Truman established agencies called loyalty boards to investigate federal workers. Truman ordered the dismissal of any government employee whose loyalty appeared questionable. That same year, the U.S. attorney general established a list of organizations that the Department of Justice considered disloyal. Government agencies used the list as a guide to help determine the loyalty of employees and of people seeking jobs.
The accusations and investigations spread quickly and affected thousands of people. Librarians, college professors, entertainers, journalists, clergy, and others came under suspicion. Some firms blacklisted (refused to hire) people accused of Communist associations. Many employees, to keep their jobs, were required to take oaths of loyalty to the government. McCarthyism gradually declined after 1954. Among the factors that contributed to its decline were the end of the Korean War in 1953 and the condemnation of McCarthy by the Senate for conduct unbecoming a senator in 1954. In addition, from 1955 to 1958, the Supreme Court of the United States made a series of decisions that helped protect the rights of people accused of sympathizing with Communists. Today, the term McCarthyism is sometimes used to refer to reckless public accusations of disloyalty to the United States.
Bartlett, Charles. "McCarthy, Joseph Raymond." World Book Online Reference Center. 2006. [Date of access: 10-4-06] .
McCarthy conducted several public investigations of Communist influence on U.S. foreign policy. Some people praised him as a patriot, but others condemned him for publicly accusing people of disloyalty without sufficient evidence. He did not succeed in identifying any Communists employed by the government. His widely scattered charges gave rise to a new word, McCarthyism.
McCarthy was elected to the Senate in 1946. He attracted national attention in 1950 by accusing the Department of State of harboring Communists. President Harry S. Truman, a Democrat, and Secretary of State Dean Acheson denied McCarthy's charges. But most of McCarthy's fellow senators of both parties were aware of his widespread support and were anxious to avoid challenging him. So was General Dwight D. Eisenhower, both as Republican presidential candidate and soon after becoming president in 1953. McCarthy also accused the Eisenhower Administration of treason.
During nationally televised hearings in 1954, McCarthy accused the U.S. Army of "coddling Communists." The Army made countercharges of improper conduct by members of McCarthy's staff. As a result of the hearings, McCarthy lost the support of millions of people. The Senate condemned him in 1954 for "contemptuous" conduct toward a subcommittee that had investigated his finances in 1952, and for his abuse of a committee that recommended he be censured.
The Puritan hated bear-baiting, not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators.
Author: Thomas Babington Macaulay
Source: History of England (vol. I, ch. II)
Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn!
Author: Robert Burns
http://www.worldofquotes.com/topic/Cruelty/index.html
As Communism appeared more and more threatening, the federal government began to search for secret Communists among its employees. In 1947, President Harry S. Truman established agencies called loyalty boards to investigate federal workers. Truman ordered the dismissal of any government employee whose loyalty appeared questionable. That same year, the U.S. attorney general established a list of organizations that the Department of Justice considered disloyal. Government agencies used the list as a guide to help determine the loyalty of employees and of people seeking jobs.
The accusations and investigations spread quickly and affected thousands of people. Librarians, college professors, entertainers, journalists, clergy, and others came under suspicion. Some firms blacklisted (refused to hire) people accused of Communist associations. Many employees, to keep their jobs, were required to take oaths of loyalty to the government. McCarthyism gradually declined after 1954. Among the factors that contributed to its decline were the end of the Korean War in 1953 and the condemnation of McCarthy by the Senate for conduct unbecoming a senator in 1954. In addition, from 1955 to 1958, the Supreme Court of the United States made a series of decisions that helped protect the rights of people accused of sympathizing with Communists. Today, the term McCarthyism is sometimes used to refer to reckless public accusations of disloyalty to the United States.
Bartlett, Charles. "McCarthy, Joseph Raymond." World Book Online Reference Center. 2006. [Date of access: 10-4-06] .
McCarthy conducted several public investigations of Communist influence on U.S. foreign policy. Some people praised him as a patriot, but others condemned him for publicly accusing people of disloyalty without sufficient evidence. He did not succeed in identifying any Communists employed by the government. His widely scattered charges gave rise to a new word, McCarthyism.
McCarthy was elected to the Senate in 1946. He attracted national attention in 1950 by accusing the Department of State of harboring Communists. President Harry S. Truman, a Democrat, and Secretary of State Dean Acheson denied McCarthy's charges. But most of McCarthy's fellow senators of both parties were aware of his widespread support and were anxious to avoid challenging him. So was General Dwight D. Eisenhower, both as Republican presidential candidate and soon after becoming president in 1953. McCarthy also accused the Eisenhower Administration of treason.
During nationally televised hearings in 1954, McCarthy accused the U.S. Army of "coddling Communists." The Army made countercharges of improper conduct by members of McCarthy's staff. As a result of the hearings, McCarthy lost the support of millions of people. The Senate condemned him in 1954 for "contemptuous" conduct toward a subcommittee that had investigated his finances in 1952, and for his abuse of a committee that recommended he be censured.
The Puritan hated bear-baiting, not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators.
Author: Thomas Babington Macaulay
Source: History of England (vol. I, ch. II)
Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn!
Author: Robert Burns
http://www.worldofquotes.com/topic/Cruelty/index.html