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Description:

Everything you ever needed to know about the Red Scare. Well, as much as would fit in one video, at least.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:07

McCarthyism, a la Shmoop. A twentieth century witch hunt.

00:12

I see red people...

00:16

Mr. Rogers.

00:18

Bill Cosby.

00:20

Betty White.

00:21

Imagine living in a time when trusted public figures were being lambasted for their political views...

00:30

In mid-20th century America, that's how things rolled.

00:33

Senator Joseph McCarthy accused thousands of Americans of being Communists

00:37

and painted them as public villains.

00:41

Communists were seen as our mortal enemies.

00:44

This Anti-Communist hysteria infiltrated all parts of American life.

00:48

Americans feared that anyone could be the evil hated Communist.

00:52

Was he or wasn't he?

00:54

The mailman?

00:57

The Jones next door?

00:58

The bagel delivery boy?

01:01

Anyone who seemed at all un-American,

01:04

As McCarthy called it, was assumed guilty before anything else.

01:10

McCarthy created the House Un-American Activities Committee and

01:12

the Hollywood blacklist,

01:14

It targeted citizens, politicians and celebrities who he claimed were Communist threats to the nation.

01:21

Many of these assertions were pure speculation,

01:24

And many people he put on trial were convicted with false evidence.

01:28

Alleged Communists were often alienated from their community,

01:31

Fired from their jobs,

01:33

Or even sent to jail.

01:35

The overwhelming majority of these threats turned out to be untrue of course.

01:39

Congress ultimately criticized McCarthy for his illegal and unconstitutional actions.

01:44

And like all simple villains, he just faded away.

01:48

So was McCarthy's witch-hunt of Communists innevitable?

01:51

Were we so scared as a nation that we kinda needed this ethical vomitting?

01:56

Do some rules have to be broken,

01:58

Some lies told,

01:59

And some lives ruined,

02:01

In order to make sure the country is safe?

02:04

Or were the Committee's actions illegal and wrong no matter what?

02:09

Betty White, that commie, wants you to Shmoop amongst yourselves.

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