McCarthyism Era

1947
McCarthy takes office
Joseph McCarthy defeats Senator Robert La Follette. McCarthy runs a viscous, negative campaign accusing his competitor of being a war profiteer.

The Hollywood Ten

Blacklist established
Several predominant actors, writers, and directors refused to testify, which would later become known as "The Hollywood Ten".

1950
McCarthy's list
Senator McCarthy claims he has a list of 205 known active communist party members and soviet spies working in the state department.

Speech to the Senate
McCarthy gives a speech to the Senate, claiming he has a list of 81 people who pose a risk to the state department.

Rosenbergs Indicted
The Grand Jury indicts Rosenberg couple for leaking nuclear weapons technology to the soviets.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

1951
Rosenbergs convicted
The Rosenbergs are convicted of espionage, and would later be executed in 1953. Historians are skeptical to whether they were really Soviet spies.

1952
McCarthy is reelected
McCarthy wins election mainly by focusing on his opponent's shortcomings. McCarthy defeats Len Schmidt and Thomas fairchild.

1953
Marder Reports
The Washington Post runs a dramatic series of stories about McCarthy's reckless charges against the Fort Monmouth Signal Corps, which were apparently done without significant evidence.

1954

McCarthy at the Hearings

Army-McCarthy Hearings
Extensive reports from both Marder and Murrow, which heavily scrutinized McCarthy's reckless accusations, cause the Senate to hold hearings to investigate McCarthy's controversial accusations.

McCarthy is Convicted
The Senate votes to condemn McCarthy for his reckless accusations and demeanor. Not a single act of espionage was ever found in McCarthy's committee. Disgraced, McCarthy dies three years later from alcohol-induced cirrhosis.

written by: Sam Melvin, English CP III

McCarthyism Era

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Sources

McCarthyism Political Cartoon

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Timeline of Major events McCarthyism