McCarthyism

A.    List three things the author said that you think are important:

- In the document he stated that he has the names of 57 communists that are presently serving in the state department.

- President Truman appointed a board to screen state department employees and found hundreds listed as “dangerous to the security of the nation”, because of communist connections.

-One group of 300 certified to the secretary for discharge, he only discharged about 80.

B. Why do you think this document was written?
-I think this document was written to inform President Truman about all the people in the state department that are communists or dangerous to the security of the nation, Also, to suggest that these people must be discharged immediately

C. What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Quote from the document.
-“I have the names of 57 communists that are presently serving in the state department.

     

D. List two things the document tells you about life in the United States at the time it was written:

- The American society feared communists and turned their backs against anyone that could possibly be a communist.

- American society also had a negative view towards the Soviet Union and feared the Soviet Union’s atomic bomb plans.

E. Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document:

-How can President Truman find McCarthy’s list of 57 communists that are presently serving in the state department?

F. Date of document

- February 11, 1950

G. Author:

-Senator Joseph McCarthy

     H. Purpose of document
      - To inform President Truman about the communists in the state department

Society in the 1950s

            The article titled " A Nation in Debt" explained the debt increase in the 1950s society. In the Fifties, the concept "buy now, pay later" was introduced along with the first credit card (the Diner's Club card). Private debt doubled from $104.8 billion to $263.3 billion in the 1950s. Credit card purchases benefited the U.S's 1950s economy. Although, the U.S and the middle class did well during this time 25% of citizens lived in poverty. The U.S. citizens who were affected were blacks who lived in urban neighborhoods and lower class whites. President Eisenhower bel;ieved his approach to the economy proved to be successful, even though it didnt reach everyone.