The Society Against Joseph McCarthy

The history of persecution in the era of McCarthyism has already been studied in detail, but the theme of society's opposition to it still needs to be further explored. The paper answers the question: why did Americans, known for their social activism, tolerate the activities of Senator Joseph McCarthy for four years while he was terrorizing everyone – from the Senate to universities, the press, and cultural figures? Based on a wide range of sources (government documents, press materials, memoirs), the author examines the attitude of various segments of the population towards McCarthyism and concludes that most Americans shared anti-communist sentiments. This was largely due to the deterioration of relations between the Soviet Union and the United States of America after World War II, which turned into the Cold War. A significant factor was the disclosure after the war of the Soviet spy network operating in the United States in the 30–40s. Soviet espionage accelerated the testing of the atomic bomb in the USSR, which according to the Americans created the threat of a new war. McCarthy used the growing anti-communism in the country, making his political career. But his methods of fighting the so-called «subversive elements» caused discontent because they violated the rights of citizens. And although there was no mass movement in the country, it was the society that rose to defend its freedoms. Journalists, politicians, even Presidents opposed the senator. The victory of the society proved its commitment to liberal values and readiness to defend them. The Americans have not yet forgotten the lesson of McCarthyism.

Keywords

Joseph McCarthy, McCarthyism, anticommunism, Cold War, disruptive elements

Received

17.12.2020

Publication date

21.04.2021

Number of characters

45659

Cite

GOST	Suponitskaya I. The Society Against Joseph McCarthy // Novaia i noveishaia istoriia – 2021. – Issue 2 C. 135-147 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://nni.jes.su/S013038640014274-9-1 (circulation date: 19.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013038640014274-9
MLA	Suponitskaya, Irina "The Society Against Joseph McCarthy." Novaia i noveishaia istoriia 2 (2021):135-147. DOI: 10.31857/S013038640014274-9
APA	Suponitskaya I. (2021). The Society Against Joseph McCarthy. Novaia i noveishaia istoriia (2), pp.135-147 DOI: 10.31857/S013038640014274-9

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