Joe Mc Carthy and Mc Carthyism Are you

Joe Mc. Carthy and “Mc. Carthyism” “Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the communist party? ”

The Red Scare (1945 -1960) �After WWII America became obsessed with the idea that Communism was infiltrating our democracy—the Cold War �Joseph Mc. Carthy, Republican Senator of Wisconsin stepped on the scene in February 1950, declaring that the State Department was knowingly harboring Communists.

�He claimed to have a list of over 200 names, all known communists working within our political and media landscape �This incited fear: we’d been infiltrated from the inside. We were under attack. �Mc. Carthy named head of the Government Committee on Operations in the Senate, a seat of power from which he would “investigate” anyone he wanted to of “communist tendencies”

Mc. Carthyism �Mc. Carthy encouraged an atmosphere of paranoia and fear. �His influence reached into the House of Representatives: the House Un-American Activities Committee. �“witch hunts” targeting Democrats, writers, artists, composers, actors, entertainers, directors, poets �The accused had to prove their innocence by naming other potential “Communist sympathizers” (naming names) �Once tarred a “commie” you were blacklisted

�In all, about 320 artists were blacklisted in this manner. Loss of career Jail time �Some of the hearings were televised, and this fanned the flames of public anxiety and panic. This later became a phenomenon known as “Mc. Carthyism”

Resistance �Some stood up to Mc. Carthy, questioning his bullying tactics and denouncing his actions: Edward R. Murrow led a public, televised attack on Mc. Carthy’s hearings through his television show, See It Now Arthur Miller wrote his play The Crucible as an allegorical critique of Mc. Carthyism. As a result, he was hauled before the Senate Committee and accused of being a Communist. He was convicted of “Contempt of Congress” (refusing to names)

Outcomes �After 4 years of tension and fear, Mc. Carthy’s claims were largely dismissed, and he was publicly censured by the Senate. �Some artists returned to work, others faded to obscurity permanently. �Arthur Miller’s conviction was overturned a year later by the US Court of Appeals �Mc. Carthy died 3 years later of hepatitis, worsened by his alcoholism

Miller says… �"Great drama is great questions or it is nothing but technique. I could not imagine a theater worth my time that did not want to change the world. " — Arthur Miller �"The very impulse to write springs from an inner chaos crying for order - for meaning. " — Arthur Miller