Senator Joseph McCarthy

Senator Joseph McCarthy is a former US Senator from the State of Wisconsin who served between the period of 1946 to 1957. In 1946, Joseph McCarthy entered the US Senate as the youngest member of the Senate. This would begin his rise to power in the US Senate. During this time, Russia had been busy inventing the Atomic Bomb, Communist powers in China defeating the Chinese Nationalists and ending the Chinese Civil War, turning China into the People's Republic of China. Soon after, North Korea entered war with South Korea, and in order to prevent the spread of Communism, the United States entered on the sides of the South Koreans. Relating back to Joseph McCarthy, McCarthy took advantage of the fact that North Koreans in fact created spies in South Korea, and assimilated power. In 1950, rumors of Communists infiltrating the US government and Senator Joseph McCarthy took the lead by claiming 205 Communists had infiltrated the US States Department and claimed that he had a list of 57 of the Communists that infiltrated the States Department. When he released his charges, he called for an investigation that would later be called the "Red Scare". Although he was never able to prove any of his claims, his popularity in the eyes of the people continued to soar. For 4 years, Joseph McCarthy was on the National Spotlight in his cases of Anti-Communism in the US. McCarthy's era also included the House of Un-American Activities Committee or the HOAC, that brought the McCarran Internal Securities Act into Congress and to law. The Act, first vetoed by President Truman in 1950, eventually got through when Congress overrode President Truman's veto. Many characterized McCarthy's rampage as a crusade to rid the Communists in the States Department. In 1954, McCarthy fell from power as he attacked the Armed Services. The American People watched as the Senator was shamed by the Army Council. His era lead to become an era of McCarthyism.

Although Senator Joseph McCarthy was shamed for his actions, his actions are the popular actions of the people. The Anti-Communist Crusade by McCarthy was only so popular because of the fear of the people. McCarthy's actions are not unreasonable as history has shown North Korean spies in South Korea, McCarthy's actions are only looked down upon because he had no evidence supporting his actions and claims. Joseph McCarthy's McCarthyism could be one of America's most shameful moments and could be compared to the Salem Witch Trials.

http://www.biography.com/people/joseph-mccarthy-9390801#synopsis
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/joseph-mccarthy