McCarthyism

Question 1

What is capitalism?

Answer 1

A political and economic system based on the private ownership of a country’s means of production and their operation for profit by individuals rather than the state

Question 2

What is a benefit and disadvantage of capitalism?

Answer 2

1. Encourages innovation within society and allows for social mobility
2. Tends to lead to wealth and social inequality through a disproportionate distribution of wealth.

Question 3

What is communism?

Answer 3

A political and economic ideology based on the common ownership of its major means of production, as well as the equal distribution of wealth.

Question 4

What is a benefit and disadvantage of communism?

Answer 4

1. Efficient centrally planned economy leads to no economic stability
2. Lack of democracy can lead to totalitarian governments that limit personal freedoms.

Question 5

What is McCarthyism?

Answer 5

A period of anti-Communist purging campaigns in US government and institutions lasting from the 1940s to 50s and named after its most notorious accuser, Joseph McCarthy.

Question 6

Give a brief background of communism in the US.

Answer 6

1. Was a small American Communist party in the 1930-40s that was attacked by conservatives, business leaders and liberals for its support of the oppressive Soviet regime.
2. Some American Communists spied for the USSR during WW2 which caused domestic communism to bee seen as a threat to national security.
3. Aims to eliminate threat lead to longest period of political oppression in US history.

Question 7

What were the main features of McCarthyism?

Answer 7

1. Harassment of suspected left-wing political views
2. 1940s: CIA led by J. Edgar Hoover formed a narrow criteria for eliminating suspected communists in positions of power, which spread to other public and private employers.
3. Congress made ppl testify before investigative bodies (e.g. HUAC) - refusal led to jailment or firing and blacklisting

Question 8

What did McCarthy do?

Answer 8

1. Used hysteria as a partisan weapon
2. Had ever changing lists of alleged communists within the State Department backed by fabricated evidence
3. Public support stopped when he began investigating the army.

Question 9

What were the effects of McCarthyism?

Answer 9

1. American political spectrum narrowed.
2. Political leaders suppressed democratic freedoms in the name of protecting them and the Supreme Court condoned serious violations of constitutional rights in the name of national security.