Think As Historian: THINK AS A HISTORIAN: EXPLAIN THE HISTORICAL SITUATION Of THE “RED SCARE”
Communists are sometimes called “reds.” A “red scare” is a period during which non-Communists are especially fearful and suspicious that Communists are plotting a takeover, often through infiltrating government institutions. A red scare happened in the United States in the years after World War II. Senator Joseph R. McCarthy of Wisconsin became the leading voice for hunting down Communist spies and infiltrators. He made unfounded allegations against politicians and hundreds of civilians, suspecting them of being Communists and Soviet spies. In Wheeling, West Virginia, on February 9, 1950, Senator McCarthy gave an infamous speech proclaiming that he had a list of members of the Communist Party who were in the U.S. State Department.
“The reason why we find ourselves in a position of impotency is not
because our only powerful potential enemy has sent men to invade
our shores . . . . but rather because of the traitorous actions of those
who have been treated so well by this Nation. It has not been the less
fortunate, or members of minority groups who have been traitorous
to this Nation, but rather those who have had all the benefits that the
wealthiest Nation on earth has had to offer . . . . the finest homes,
the finest college education and the finest jobs in government we can
give.
This is glaringly true in the State Department. There the bright young
men who are born with silver spoons in their mouths are the ones
who have been most traitorous . . . I have here in my hand a list of
205 . . . names that were made known to the Secretary of State as
being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still
working and shaping policy in the State Department . . .”
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6456
Research the historical situation in which McCarthy made his accu- sations. Identify three or four events that help explain the beliefs he expresses in this speech. Also explain why the historical situation limits the usefulness of this source as a factual representation of Communists in the U.S. government.