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American Experience Presents: The Birth of McCarthyism

The FRONTLINE Dispatch

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The Rise of McCarthyism

This chapter explores Joseph McCarthy's pivotal speech in Wheeling, West Virginia, which marked the beginning of his dramatic ascent in American politics. By claiming rampant communist infiltration in the government, McCarthy captivated the public and shifted the political narrative, demonstrating how fear and sensationalism can harness political power during the Cold War.

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