Words: 446
During this time period many people were extremely afraid of communism, so the ideals of McCarthy rose up. McCarty was named after Joseph McCarthy, who Was the Senator Of Wisconsin at the time. Joseph McCarthy actions, as well as The House Un-American Activities Committee, and Congress were not justified. It was breaking people’s Constitutional rights, ruining many peoples lives and careers, and because they interrogated hundreds and thousands of people who didn’t even believe that communism should exist in our country.
One of the main reasons to prove that the actions during the Red Scare weren’t justified was because it broke people constitutional rights. During a speech Senator Margaret Smith of Maine said this inspiring quote, “The right o criticize; The right to hold unpopular beliefs; The right to protest; the right of independent thought. ” Now, to some this might just look like a list of rights an American has. But to many, this is an inspiring quote of the things great about America and the things that McCarthy, Congress, and the HIJACK attacked.
This shows that McCarthy broke many of the rights that they as Americans had and deserved to keep. Another important reason why the actions of McCarthy weren’t justified was that they ruined many people’s lives and careers. One group collected and published the names of people in the world of the arts and entertainment thought to be UN-American in their politics (Picture seen in back). The most famous victims were able to successfully fight off such attacks, but Red Channels, radio stations, weren’t destroyed for many years.
Red Channels reported on possible Communists and they faked information in order to keep their stations alive. These Channels ruined and/or harmed many people’s careers. The last major reason why all this was not justified is because they interrogated hundreds and thousands of innocent people who din t even believe that communism should exist in our country. Refusal to cooperate with the HIJACK could ruin careers. If a witness refused to testify about past political associations, relying on the First Amendment to the U.
S. Constitution, the witness would be cited for contempt of Congress. The government would then prosecute the witness for criminal contempt of Congress. Some people were convicted and sent to federal prison for several years. Mysticism was not justified because it broke many constitutional rights, ruined people’s careers, and led to a state of panic throughout America. So next time your in a situation where you don’t know what to do or what to say. Think about how it will affect others, not just yourself.