McCarthy and the Red Scares, How They Affected America

McCarthy and the red scares, how they affected America.

All the hysteria about the Red Scares all started in 1919 when a bomb exploded in front of the door of Michael Palmer. Bombs exploded throughout the United States in other high ranking official’s homes. Due to this congress set up the Anti-Radical Division to investigate and prosecute people who were seen or could be a threat to the government. Throughout the year and the years following, hundreds of Russian immigrants were deported for various reasons. Thousands of people were arrested for belonging to communist groups, including U.S. citizens. More and more organizations and activities were labeled “communist” by suspicion. All of this brought hysteria to the county, but the hysteria increased with the introduction of the devastating weapons. In November 1, 1952 the first H-bomb took place in Eniwetok Island. The explosion made a massive cloud was about twenty-five miles into the stratosphere and spread one hundred miles across the sky. Now civilization throughout the world was terrified because there was a mass destruction weapon that could wipe away civilizations and its radioactive element’s that could end all forms of life.(Lindop, 53) This really alerted the country, especially the government. In 1947 president Truman launched a massive security program where about six point six million government employees were investigated. Out of these people not one case of espionage was uncovered, but about five hundred people were fired of dismissed because of “questionable loyalty.” This Red Hunt made people fear that the government was full of spy’s, but only one person Dr.Klaus confessed of spying. Dr.Klaus confessed of spying on the Soviet Union and giving them the top secret information on how to build a bomb.(lindop,19) People were so frightened about the specter of bombs that some families had companies build in their backyard expensive concrete shelters with steal tops and stairs that lead to the bottom. In these shelters families stored a radio, water and canned food supplies and games and toys for their children.(Lindop,53) At schools, at the signal “drop” all students would jump from their seats; secure themselves beneath desks and tables where they shielded their heads under their arms. Sometimes students would file from their classrooms into the school hallway and stood with their backs against the walls(Lindop,53). These serious drills were done often because they wanted to be prepared for the explosion of the bombs.

The American government was so scared of the “communist” that thousands of Americans were falsely accused of having some associations with the communist party. The governments made the people swear alliance to the government or else they would loose their jobs! (Sherrow,6) The Americans accused of being communist were tried with out the due process of law. These Americans were said to be guilty until proven innocent. The actions of the government violated the American right to have freedom of speech as well as freedom of religion, press and peacefully assembly. The first amendment states the congress shall make no law respecting all establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise of abrading the freedom of speech, of the press, the right of the people to peacefully