- 06/11/2012
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Research Topic Guides
BACKGROUND
On February 9, 1950, Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, a Republican from Wisconsin, publicly charged that at least 205 Department of State employees were Communists, traitors, and spies. This accusation touched a deep sense of fear among many Americans that the Communists were infiltrating the country and would eventually take over. Congress investigated the charges, and hearings were conducted during which many innocent people lost their livelihoods and reputations.
BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS
973.918
335.4
353.6
320.973
Biography section under McCarthy, Joseph
LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)
McCarthy, Joseph—1908–1957
Communism—United States
McCarthy-Army controversy, 1954
Subversive activities—United States
Anti-communist movements—United States
REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)
Commager, Henry Steele, et al. The American Destiny, 1976.
Hochman, Stanley, and Eleanor Hochman. A Dictionary of Contemporary American History: 1945 to the Present, 1993.
Magill, Frank N., ed. Great Events from History: American History Series, 1975.
PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)
EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries
InfoTrac
NewsBank and other newspaper indexes
Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature
SIRS (Social Issues Resources Series)
WILSONDISC
ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH
Dialog
Internet
KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES
McCarthy, Joseph
Communists—investigations
Anti-Communist movements
McCarthy witch hunt trials
McCarthy hearings
McCarthy-army controversy
VIDEOTAPE ON THIS TOPIC
McCarthy: Death of a Witch Hunter. MPI Home Video, 1986.
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Joseph R. McCarthy Foundation, P.O. Box 8040, Appleton, WI 54913.
SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC
Assess the role of television in the McCarthy hearings.
Discuss the impact of the McCarthy hearings on civil liberties.
Report on a key personality in these events; e.g., Alger Hiss, Klaus Fuchs, Margaret Chase Smith, Roy Cohn.
What were McCarthy’s political motives?
SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS
American Communist party
Cold War
Red Scare
Rosenberg Case
Voice of America
This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.
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