McCarthy Witch Hunts

Modern Witch Hunts

Muslims being prosecuted after 9-11

Child Bullying

McCarthy Witch Hunts

McCarthy Hearings

• McCarthy began hearings investigating the United States Army, which he charges with being "soft" on communism. These televised hearings gave the American public their first view of McCarthy in action, and his recklessness, indignant bluster, and bullying tactics quickly resulted in his fall from prominence.
• In February 1950, McCarthy charged that there were over 200 "known communists" in the Department of State.
• McCarthy adeptly manipulated the media, told ever more outrageous stories concerning the communist conspiracy in the United States, and smeared any opponents as "communist sympathizers" to keep his own name in the headlines for years

The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)

• HUAC- was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. It was created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities on the part of private citizens, public employees, and those organizations suspected of having Communist ties. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security". When the House abolished the committee in 1975, its functions were transferred to the House Judiciary Committee.
• If people were blamed by the HUAC for being Communists some were black listed and faded into the sunset. Others went right on with their careers. Lucille Ball was one of them.

Joseph McCarthy

Joseph McCarthy cont.

• Joseph McCarthy was born into a Roman Catholic family as the fifth of nine children in Appleton, Wisconsin.
• McCarthy dropped out of grade school at the age fourteen, he returned to diligently finish his studies in 1928, permitting him to attend Marquette University
• McCarthy quit his job as circuit court judge and joined the Marines during World War II. After his short military career McCarthy then ran as the Republican candidate for the Wisconsin Senate seat
• he used propaganda and erroneous accusations against his opponent, Robert La Follette, to promote his own campaign. Damaging La Follete’s reputation by claiming he hadn’t enlisted in the military during the war, McCarthy won the election and became Senator
• His first term was unimpressive, searched for ways to ensure his political success, resorting even to corruption.

• Edmund Walsh, a close fellow Roman Catholic and anti-communist suggested a crusade against so-called communist subversives
• McCarthy enthusiastically agreed and took advantage of the nation’s wave of fanatic terror against communism, and emerged on February 9, 1950, claiming he had a list of 205 people in the State Department who were known members of the American Communist Party.

Joseph McCarthy

Edmund Walsh

What is a witch hunt?

Witch Hunt-a search for and subsequent persecution of a supposed witch. But it can also have a figurative meaning: the searching out and deliberate harassment of those (as political opponents) with unpopular views. It also includes another definition: the act of unfairly looking for and punishing people who are accused of having opinions that are believed to be dangerous or evil

McCarthyism a Witch Hunt?

• McCarthy accused people for being a communists without any proof just like in the witch hunts of 1692
• he would just accuse people who he thought were abnormal or people he didn't like

McCarthyism

• McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. It also means "the practice of making unfair allegations or using unfair investigative techniques, especially in order to restrict dissent or political criticism."