|
Domestic events: McCarthyism
McCarthy was a senator from Wisconsin
In 1950 he claimed he had a list of 205 communists who were working in state departments. When his claims were investigated his figures wavered from 205 to 81 to 57 to a lot.
His claims were investigated by a senator committee - stated that McCarthy was ‘a fraud and a hoax’. McCarthy claimed that the chairman of the committee Senator Tydings was a communist. This led to other senators being reluctant to criticise McCarthy.
McCarthy’s list included scientists, diplomats, members of Democrats, writers and actors as a result some actors were blacklisted and could not get work for many years.
1952 Eisenhower is elected - he ordered a fresh investigation into the civil service - any person seen as a security risk to be removed from office.
- May 1953 - October 1954 - 6924 government workers lost their job, none were put on trial.
1953 - McCarthy became chairman of senate committee on government operations
1954 McCarthy went too far - 45 army officers were accused of being communist agents. The Army-McCarthy hearings were televised - they showed McCarthy as being a bully.
In December 1954 - senate condemned McCarthy for improper conduct.
December 1957 - McCarthy died.
|
