Joseph McCarthy was the most famous Republican anti-communist. He had a reputation for being an ineffective legislator, so in January 1950, in order to be reelected for a Senate seat in 1952 he charged that communists were taking over U.S. government.
At various times, McCarthy claimed to have lists of 57, 81, and 205 names of people in the state department that had communist ties; however he ever actually gave any names. McCarthy began his accusations in the senate, as he had legal immunity that protected him from being sued for slander.
McCarthy down fall began in 1952 when he accused the U.S. Army of having communist ties. This resulted in a televised Senate investigation in 1954, which alienated audiences because he bullied his witnesses. The Senate condemned him for improper conduct "for bringing Senate into dishonor and disrepute." Although he did not get punished, he died 3 years later due to alcoholism.
From then on, accusing people of disloyalty without evidence
was known as McCarthyism. The effects of McCarthyism were that millions of Americans were forced to take loyalty oaths and undergo loyalty investigations, activism by labor unions went into decline, many people were afraid to speak out on public issues, and anti-communism continued to drive U.S. foreign policy.By Zack and Mina
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