Senator Joseph McCarthy

Definition

Senator Joseph McCarthy was a U.S. senator from Wisconsin who, in the 1950s, claimed that numerous communists and Soviet spies had infiltrated the United States government. His accusations led to investigations and hearings that became known as the "Red Scare."

Analogy

Think of Senator Joseph McCarthy as a fire alarm that keeps going off even when there's no fire. He created panic and fear by constantly warning about a threat (communism) that was largely exaggerated.

Related terms

Red Scare: The widespread fear of communism in the US during the 1940s and 1950s, leading to witch hunts for suspected communists.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC): A committee of the U.S. House of Representatives which investigated allegations of communist activity in the U.S during the early years of the Cold War (1945-91).

Blacklisting: The practice of denying employment to individuals or groups based on their political beliefs or associations, often used during the Red Scare against those accused of being communists.