Part 1: The Birth of McCarthyism
American Experience Presents
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The Rise of McCarthyism
This chapter examines the roots of McCarthyism, detailing the fears of Soviet influence in the U.S. government and the establishment of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). It highlights the dramatic courtroom scenes surrounding the Alger Hiss case, underscoring the tensions between civil liberties and anti-communist fervor. Finally, the chapter recounts McCarthy's pivotal speech in Wheeling, West Virginia, which catapulted him into the national spotlight and marked the beginning of a new era of political paranoia.
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