McCarthyism

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mccarthyism

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the time period?Late 1940s to mid-1950s, with roots in post-WWII geopolitical tensions
2. What is the primary location?United States
3. Why did people fear communists during McCarthyism?After World War II, the U.S. and the Soviet Union were in a Cold War, and many Americans worried that communists might try to take over American government, schools, and movies.
4. How did Senator McCarthy accuse people?Senator McCarthy used public hearings and TV shows, asking hard questions and saying people were communist sympathizers even when he had no proof.

Geopolitical Anxieties: Widespread worries and tensions related to the relationships and power struggles between countries.
Subversion: The act of secretly undermining or overthrowing a government or established system.
Due Process: The legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person, ensuring fair treatment.
Historiography: The study of the way history is written and how historical interpretations change over time.