On February 9, 1950 unknown senator from the State of Wisconsin Joseph McCarthy, shaking by a sheet of paper, stated thaat he have declared on meeting in Wheeling (West Virginia) that he has a list of 205 persons who are known to the state secretary as members of communist party and who, however, continue to work and formulate policy of State Department. (Caughey, 68) He has made similar statements also in other cities of the country. The right-wing press and other mass media have picked up these charges. The name of senator soon became a banner of political reaction and an embodiment of the most shameful and gloomy period in the history of the USA, and the concept of McCarthyism was strongly included into political lexicon for designation of the amplifying crisis of democracy in the USA, and methods of violent suppression of the communistic movement.
The McCarthyist hysteria was a logical conclusion of turn to the right which was carried out by ruling circles of the USA in the first post-war years. Action of the factors which have defined this shift in the period of McCarthyism has even more amplified.
Thus, the powerful splash in anticommunism generated by deepening of a general crisis after World War II has coincided in the USA with the raising of anti-reformist moods which was more and more amplifying within the last decades. Merge of these two streams of reaction — anticommunism and anti-reformism — has also generated that ominous phenomenon which has in the early fifties received the name McCarthyism.
For the period of McCarthyism there was characteristic a further approach on the social and economic rights of workers and the actual refusal of some provisions of the Constitution and the Bill of the rights which was most accurately shown in activity of numerous inquiry commissions and the anticonstitutional legislation of the Congress, vociferous campaign against the left powers, labor unions, eminent persons of culture, promotion of chauvinism and racism, the appeal to prejudices, fears, ignorance.
The McCarthyism was inseparable from the political climate created within the country since the end of the war by the influential organizations of a large business, the Government, the Congress and both parties. What is called "McCarthyism", the American historian and the diplomat J. Kennan wrote, took place before McCarthy and proceeded after him. (Kennan, 190) However obliged by the emergence on a political proscenium to the anticommunism which has become a banner of official Washington, the McCarthyism went much further, identifying even moderate bourgeois liberalism with "blasting" activity of the left forces.
In a year when McCarthy has acted with sensational "revelations", the influential organizations of the American business intensified attacks to labor movement. "In our thinking, in our legislation and in pashas to policy accurately expressed slipping to the purposes which are set before themselves by socialists is shown" — it was said in the brochure of the Chamber of commerce of the USA published in 1950. The chamber saw socialism in government control over the prices, in the regulating actions of the state, in value-added income tax and a tax on inheritance, in laws on a salary minimum, control over a rent, in the state housing construction and social insurance. (Chamber of Commerce 1950, p. 16-18)
In another brochure, the Chamber of commerce with pride called itself "pioneer" in the warning of the nation of "threat of communism". In the brochure, it was noted that since 1946 when the Chamber of commerce has begun anti-communistic campaign, it has been much made on the fight against communistic "penetration" into various spheres of the American life and it was offered to extend this practice more widely. (Chamber of Commerce 1952, p 20,25, 41)
Following recommendations of the Chamber of commerce, the legal commission of the senate led by P. Makkaren and its subcommittee concerning internal security in 1950 — 1952 have made a number of loud political investigations about "penetration" of communism into the youth organizations, bodies of mass information and education, large labor unions. Also the Commission on investigation of the anti-American activity worked not less actively. It has concentrated attention on activity of communists in labor unions, investigation of "blasting" elements in the farmer organizations, among veterans, in motion picture industry and educational bodies. (Congressional Investigations of Communism, 181)
Attack of administration of Truman to a peace movement has sharply pushed development of McCarthyism. The Government, the commissions of the Congress and judicial authorities have begun persecution of heads of "Conference of workers of science and culture for peace", "National conference of workers for peace" and other organizations.
On August 24, 1950 the Ministry of Justice of the USA declared "the blasting organization" the League of young workers which has arisen in May, 1949 in Chicago. This action has been undertaken after the league has begun petition under the Stockholm appeal of Standing committee of defenders of peace in favor of prohibition of atomic weapons. In 1951, the senatorial subcommittee concerning internal security investigated the activity of Institute of the countries of the Pacific Ocean. The subcommittee declared activity of institute the "plot" directed from Moscow. (Holland, 14) The fact that the overwhelming part of means of institute arrived from Rockefeller and Carnegie's funds didn't confuse investigators of the Congress at all. The same subcommittee in 1952 has begun cleaning among the American citizens — the staff of the UN (Brown, 517)
In character activity of the congress in the first half of the 50th years was McCarthyist. Legislators sought to liquidate Communist party, to toughen government control over labor unions, to cancel the political rights proclaimed the American Constitution, to isolate the country from trends from the outside.
In 1950 the Congress has adopted by the vast majority Мс Carran-Wood Act about internal security. Unlike Smith's law of 1940 it has been directed only against communists and the organizations which existence was considered by the congress as "an obvious and direct threat to security of the USA". (Chafee, 117-118 Such definition has allowed the Ministry of Justice and the commissions of the Congress to declare illegal activity of hundreds of public organizations and groups. All of them, as well as the Communist Party, had to be registered as agents of the foreign state. Refusal of registration was punished by a penalty to 10 thousand dollars and imprisonment till five years for each overdue day of registration.
According to the new law the Bureau on control of subversive activities which was engaged in all practical work on implementation of his basic provisions was established. It had the considerable funds allocated from the federal budget and contained big staff and "experts in communism". In the shadow of this Bureau in the magnificent color the institute of the informers working for FBI and recruited from any professional informers and provokers has blossomed. In addition, the law according to the proposal of senators Kilgore, Hemfri and other liberals gave to the President the right to impose state of emergency and in this regard to suspend the Constitution and the Bill of the rights.
According to Мс Carran-Wood Act the government has created six concentration camps, and FBI has prepared lists of nearly 12 thousand communists and 17,8 thousand other "suspicious" persons which in case of force majeure were to be imprisoned in these camps. (Halperin, p IIIThe law considered a crime replacement with members of the organizations of "communistic action" of any positions in government, work at the enterprises of military value. The Communist Party and the organizations had to submit periodically to the Ministry of Justice for check financial documents and to send all materials by mail only under the signature stamp. The same treatment was to radio and to TV programmes. (Congressional Record, pt 18, p. A7125.)
In November 1950 the Ministry of Justice has initiated proceedings on registration of the Communist Party, and Bureau on control of subversive activities has begun in this regard the corresponding investigation lasting more than a year. On April 20, 1953 it recognized the Communist Party as "the organization of communistic action" and has demanded from it to be registered in the Ministry of Justice.
Prosecutions under Мс Carran-Wood Act have been extended also to the "Information center of the fight for peace" headed by the eminent progressive person Ou. Dubois which was engaged in a petition under the Stockholm appeal. In February 1951, the grand jury of New York has demanded from the leaders of the center to be registered in the Ministry of Justice. Repressions against the center eventually have led to its dissolution. 14 organizations of the so-called "communistic front", including School of social sciences of Jefferson, League of young workers, Veterans of the crew of Lincoln, the American committee of protection of the persons who were born abroad and other organizations have undergone prosecutions on the basis of this law in 1951 — 1955. At the same time materials for the use of the Мс Carran-Wood Act against 25 organizations and groups prepared.
The McCarthyism has led to toughening of immigration policy of the U.S. Government. After World War II the Сongress and the U.S. Government, considering last experience of fight against "foreign radicalism", have developed system of the discrimination quotas forbidding entry into the USA for people from the countries in which political orders for some reason weren't pleasant to the American authorities. Мс Carran-Wood Act forbade entry into the country to foreigners who were or are members the communist parties, and to other persons representing how it was specified in the law, "threat" to security of the USA. All communists who weren't naturalized in the USA, but already living in the country were subject to dispatch. The law provided also deportation of any not naturalized face which protects and distributes economic and political concepts incompatible with officially accepted in the country and representing "totalitarian" promotion. Similar punishments were imposed also for communication with the faces and the organizations which were engaged in distribution of printing materials of this sort. (Internal Security Act of 1950)
The congress has authorized the Ministry of Justice to keep under supervision or even under guard not naturalized citizens who are subject to deportation. If the persons which have passed naturalization after January 1, 1951 within the first five years entered the Communist Party or any organization of "the communistic front", according to the new law they could be deprived of nationality and sent from the country.
Truman's government from the very beginning stated disagreement with the articles of the Act concerning not naturalized citizens of the USA. The President was disturbed about the fact that the law will interfere entry into the USA of persons from Franco Spain which was the country with "the totalitarian regime". The Government also afraid that the Act would deprive it of the right to grant any political asylum to counterrevolutionary elements from the socialist countries.
In practical application of the Act this circumstance has been considered, and in the attitude towards representatives of fascist and the falangist organizations the Ministry of Justice and State Department began to be guided by the principle "involuntary membership" which was meant as belonging to the youth fascist organizations till 16 years, and also membership as means of receiving work, food coupons and so forth. Also, the accession in the past to the nazi or fascist organization in the army was considered pardonable.
McCarren-Walter Act adopted by the congress in 1952 about immigration and naturalization distributed regulations on deportation to those citizens who were accused of disrespect for the Congress for refusal on the basis of the V amendment to the Constitution to answer questions of Congressmen. The law of 1952 modified also provisions of Мс Carran-Wood Act about immigration. In particular, persons who have torn connection with the Communist Parties within the last five years and actively opposed ideas of communism could obtain citizenship now. The new legislation on immigration, thus, widely opened doors before nazi criminals and at the same time became means of intimidation of the radical segments of the population and public organizations within the country opposing McCarthyism and reactionary actions of the Government in the field of domestic and foreign policy. In April, 1953 the Government declared that 12 thousand which aren't naturalized and 10 thousand the naturalized citizens of the USA are under the threat of expulsion from the country. (McCarran-Walter Act)
Black progressive public figure and the singer P. Robson the prominent scientist-chemist R. Spitzer, professor of Columbia University K. Lamont, professor of California Institute of Technology and the president of the American society of chemists L. Polin and many other have been refused in the departure from the USA. In turn, according to Federation of the American scientists, in 1952 over 200 foreign scientists couldn't arrive to the USA because of difficulties of receiving entrance visas. the Peruvian singer Imma Sumak, the world famous artist P. Picasso, the conductor of the Vienna state opera D. Krips and other outstanding cultural figures and arts of a number of the countries have been refused in entrance into the country. Also, Charlie Chaplin, the English citizen living in the USA have fallen a victim of this policy. In October 1952 he has gone abroad, and the Ministry of Justice hasn't allowed him to return to the country.
The McCarthyism, the development of which has coincided with the beginning of war in Korea, has exerted considerable impact on the distribution of militaristic spirits in the country. Makkartista imposed to the Government option of the victorious end of unpopular war. They demanded expansion of the center of war, distribution of bombings on the territory of the People's Republic of China, sea blockade of its coast. The general D. Kenny directing military and air operations of the USA during World War II on the Pacific Ocean urged to cross the Yalu River and to bomb military bases of the People's Republic of China in Manchuria. Senator Taft has spoken in favor of blockade of the People's Republic of China the 7th fleet of the USA. In February, 1951 the congressman J. Martin demanded to open by the Korean forces the second front against the People's Republic of China to improve matters of the American troops in Korea. The commander of the American army in the Far East general MacArthur completely shared the point of view of right and assured the government that if it works without hesitation, war will end with a victory of the USA. (McCann, Chapter 10)
The joint committee of chiefs of staffs and many military were skeptical about Macarthur's plans. Agreeing with them, Truman's government considered that implementation of proposals of the general could involve the USA in big war without any chances of a victory and weaken strategic positions in other regions of the world, and especially in Western Europe. Macarthur's proposals, to the indignation of McCarthyist, have been rejected, and the general for non-compliance with subordination has been exempted from the post of the commander-in-chief of armed forces of the USA in the Far East.
In 1950 — 1951 the McCarthyist repressions have fallen upon the most various layers of the American population. The serious blow has been struck also to the prestige of ruling democratic administration. All attempts of Truman and his supporters to intercept an initiative in the fight against "red scare" haven't allowed any political prize to democrats . The McCarthyism "worked" for republicans who for the first time in the last 20 years had had a real opportunity to win the upcoming presidential elections.
Bibliography
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Socialism in America Washington: Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A., 1950. Print.
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