McCarthyism
Throughout the time of the Red Scare people were scared that there were communists in the country, trying to turn the united states to a communist country. People are easily blinded by the words of the people above them and put little to no effort to figure out the truth on their own. Paul Achter wrote an article McCarthyism he stated, “Joseph McCarthy produce[d] a series of investigations and hearings during the 1950s in an effort to expose supposed communist infiltration…” Joseph had no grounds for all of these investigations on the innocent people. He rattled the people up with these investigations gaining their trust in the process. The people that he investigated were just names that he came up with and had no concrete evidence. The people believed him because they were relieved that someone was taking matters into their own hands to stop the communists before they spread. Achter continues to go on and states,” The term has since become a byname for defamation of character or reputation…” The results of McCarthy and his opinions caused the names of reputable people to be tarnished. People blindly believed him and participated in the downfall of lives. Talking about Joseph McCarthy and his plan resulting in the accusations towards people whom may or may not have been affiliated with communism. Reputations take a while to build up and words from this man’s mouth destroyed them in seconds. Furthermore, Achter states,” his colourful and cleverly presented accusations drove some persons out of their jobs and brought popular condemnation to others.” The price people paid to feel safe was taking this man’s word when he presented them with a list of names whom he sought out to be suspicious. These accusations not only took their reputations to rock bottom but they also took the jobs of the accused. He didn’t just blatantly say the “communists” names but he put it in a way that was more believable to the people. He sold a story and the people blindly devoured it. To sum up, the people during the red scare ate McCarthy’s words like candy, without doing any further research, because they sought out the safety for their country.