Focus: Senator McCarthy's Witch-hunt

Utilizing tactics that included unfounded accusations, harassment, and bullying, McCarthy destroyed lives and careers and caused private citizens as well as generals and presidents to fear him. Students will experience McCarthy's sensational witch-hunt through these unique, primary source documents, including McCarthy's famous Wheeling speech, political propaganda brochures, presidential correspondence, Congressional testimony, and political cartoons. This Focus portfolio also includes an illustrated Broadsheet Essay that provides essential background to facilitate document analysis and understanding, a timeline of key events, a reading list for more in-depth study, and critical thinking questions. Support Materials: * Illustrated Broadsheet Essay * Timeline * Critical Thinking Questions * Recommended Reading List 8 Primary Source Documents: * McCarthy makes his debut on the national stage, Wheeling, West Virginia, February 9, 1950 * McCarthy attacks Truman, February 1950 * Draft of Truman's reply, February 1950 * Anti-McCarthy brochure, Democratic Organizing Committee of Wisconsin, 1952 * Pro-McCarthy booklet, The McCarthy Club, 1952 * Excerpt from hearings before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Government Operations, April 29, 1953 * Eisenhower turns against McCarthy, Entry from the diary of President Eisenhower's press secretary, May 28, 1954 * Fighting McCarthy and McCarthyism with a pen, A political cartoon poster * Senate condemnation of Senator McCarthy, December 2, 1954