jan 1, 1950 - Senator McCarthy

Description:

Senator McCarthy capitalized on American fears of communism that were further stirred up by the Soviet Union testing a nuclear bomb and China becoming a communist country. In the 1950's, McCarthy recklessly accused many American government officials and citizens of being communists, based on little or no evidence. Because of the prevailing fear of communism at the time, his accusations drew the attention of the press. Ultimately, the Senate passed a censure, or formal disapproval, of McCarthy. This led to the coining of the term McCarthyism, or the making of false accusations based on rumor or guilt by
association