McCarthyism is a term named for Joseph McCarthy, a republican senator from Wisconsin from 1946 to 1957. McCarthyism began, as it is know today, with Senator McCarthy's accusations in February 1950 that Communists had infiltrated the Department of State. He continued to accuse high-ranking officials of treasonous activities for the next three years even though his accusations were never substantiated. McCarthyism is simply the practice of making accusations of political disloyalty with insufficient evidence. The McCarthy Era refers …showed first 75 words of 1001 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1001 total…fear being unpatriotic which society and the media has taken to be a very negative thing. Simply refusing to recite the pledge of allegiance or have opinions contrary to that of the American government could mean loss of business for example. McCarthyism is less a tool used by the government with the exception of post September 11 made to restrict freedoms, but more a tool used by the people and society to achieve their own gain.