The Rise And Fall Of McCarthyism

From 1950 to 1954, the U.S. set off an extremely political wave called McCarthyism, which objected to communism and democracy. It involved the United States into a period——McCarthy era ,in which the equality, democracy and justice are almost extinct. Not only did it have a great influence on the USA'foreign affairs, internal affairs and social affairs, but also it made a deep impression on the hearts of all the people in the USA. What is McCarthyism on earth? How does it develop? And what influences does it have on the society of that time? This essay introduces something about the McCarthyismThe essay is divided into three chapters.The first chapter can be divided into two parts. The first part mainly introduces McCarthy, what is McCarthyism? And why McCarthyism makes the Democratic Party's and the Republican Party's top leaders give in to it and allow this ridiculous farce to last for four years. The second part mainly deals with the development periods of McCarthyism. The first period is the rapid rise of McCarthyism. After giving a speech in Wheeling, McCarthy set up his position in politics with his unique means. The second period is the rampant one of McCarthyism. In this period, McCarthy made full use of the external environment and disputes of internal parties. In the third period, McCarthyism reached the peak period. His activities have extended to the different fields in politics, economics, idea and culture and the life of common people. The fourth period is the rapid declining period. McCarthy extended the claws to the forces, which caused the emphasis of the U.S. government. And the government stopped the crazy activities of the McCarthy timely and determinedly. Hence, McCarthyism finally came to the declining end.The second chapter focuses on the causes of the rise and fall of McCarthyism. It can be the rage at that moment, depending not only on the international background of the Cold War, American anti-communist tradition and the parties fights of the Republic Party, but also on McCarthy's "individual factors ", under the opposing international situation of USSR, Truman's cold war policy had a deep effect on the domestic politics of the USA, which caused the thought and action of"the anti-communism threats"appearing in the USA. McCarthy did take advantage of the hearts of the people in the USA and became famous under the background in which the USA was afraid of the communism and objected to the communist. The war of Republic Party and Democratic Party helped the USA to oppose the anti-communism and anti-democracy after war. McCarthy made the best of the shortcomings in American political system. His behavior had no limitation and acted on his own will within a very long period of time. In addition, we can't ignore McCarthy's individual factors. McCarthy depended on cheating and slander, making the use of media, grudge in society, and being expert in seizing people's hearts. He did his best to incite various grudge in the USA society, and then made his political status solid. Therefore, McCarthyism was prosperous in the USA. McCarthyism decaying was caused by his individual qualities, state system and international environment just like McCarthy's rising.The third chapter mainly deals with the influences of McCarthyism. These influences include American's policy to China, American Republic Party and idea and culture.McCarthyism left not only endless grief in the United States, but also a deep thinking for future generations. Democracy system in the United States is becoming better than before with the development of the USA. But opening the scars of history, we can hardly forget the ideological storm. Facing the history, what we can do is to bear the lessons of history in mind so that we will stay away from political farce forever.