What is McCarthyism? And how did it happen? - Ellen Schrecker

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/what-is-mcc...
In the 1950s, as part of a campaign to expose suspected Communists, thousands of individuals were aggressively investigated and questioned before government panels. Named after its most notorious practitioner, the phenomenon known as McCarthyism destroyed lives and careers. But how did this episode of political repression take off? Ellen Schrecker traces the history of McCarthyism.
Lesson by Ellen Schrecker, animation by Patrick Smith.

[@raphuscucullatus7845]

He's checking his list And he's checking it twice He's gonna find out if your a commie tonight

[@ferns800]

Raphus cucullatus made me laugh

[@flyingspacebrainedidiot]

*you’re**

[@spicycake5501]

McCarthy is coming to tooooowwwn

[@frut_jooos]

He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows u are commie

[@FreedomLoverCastro]

Santa claus (karl marx) is coming to town!!

[@gass995]

“Caused more damage than the threat it self” is the most American thing i have ever heard

[@DeezN1892]

Especially now

[@davidtucker9498]

Did it though? Did it cause more damage than the threat itself? I for one don't think it did. McCarthy's mistake was focusing on Soviet infiltration of our government, which he did a somewhat good job at addressing, or at least shaming the Democrats into better policing their own, but the KGB's primary focus was in infiltrating and subverting American institutions like colleges and the media. They were playing the long game, and we are just now reaping the benefits of their work.

[@samansaee1317]

@@davidtucker9498 spies unlike politicians are not idiots hence if you are a spy from for example a communist country you act as an anti communist so that you can acquire the information useful to said communist country. history has showed that the chance of mccarthy being a soviet spy is much higher than a union leader being one

[@RawUndergroundMusic]

The welfare state

[@el_chico1313]

there is a joke in the series of narcos of a DEA agent complaining on how well funded the CIA is in combating some hungry disoriented left wing rebel geoups in the jungle while under-funded, shabby DEA agents have to take on multimillion dollar generating narco cartels with ties and influences throughout the USA

[@1805movie]

I find it funny that it was okay for McCarthy to go after ordinary citizens, but him going after the military was what drew the line.

[@jonahulichny9874]

While I don’t mean to justify what you just pointed out, but it kinda makes sense. The military was a pretty major tool for American foreign policy, especially against communism. McCarthy was probably failed because of its role against communism, especially in the Korean War.

[@GoTfan-eb8tk]

There was a reason for that. Most of the previous people didn't have the public standing to challenge him openly. The Army however, did have the public standing, and they used it to full effect.

[@braviary211]

It's not exactly like there have been many communists in the US military anyway! I mean, August Willich, but he was just one dude... (and very dead by McCarthy times...) well, and that one handsome one in recent times... who didn't exist in the fifties.

[@Tboy439]

@@braviary211 ...You have no idea what you are talking about!!! Unlike what you've been fed by the globalist media, McArthur had the Korean war won as he cleared the north all the way to the Chinese boarder, and then ordered the bridges be blown so the Chinese could not attack the Americans. George C Marshall countermanded that order which allowed the Chinese to pour over the boarder enmass and attack the Americans, while refusing to give McArthur the means to defend his men. The head of the Chinese army said...we never would have dared attack the Americans unless the American administration hadn't promised us that McArthur would not be given the forces to protect his men. And it was a lot worse than that if you'd care to hear it let me know.

[@archiemelkonian]

He was 100% right!!

[@fastsnake1]

When I was taught this, my history teacher got the vice principal to convince us that somebody cheated on the midterm and we would either all have to re-do it, or fess up who did it. It was a... memorable way to teach us.

[@mrspleasants8529]

Sage.

[@alextsele1919]

Sounds like a good teacher.

[@primenumberbuster404]

I claim that History should have it's own practical demonstrations along with lessons. This is a great way of teaching.

[@NEVERGIV3UP.]

@@primenumberbuster404Exactly! Kind of like the Wave.

[@raquelreya8943]

This is kinda what we criticized the communist for...

[@360flyby]

Snowcold how did you jump to that? it's quite clear that she was saying that the US in it's bid to stop communism did the same as the communist.

[@snowcold5932]

360flyby Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hatred cannot drive out hatred, only love can do that.

[@raquelreya8943]

The problem with this world is that we alway think about the worse in bad situations and not the solution

[@nguyenhien8080]

To be fair, the communist countries also did something similar to this. Source: I'm someone who lives in one of the few communist countries.

[@rockcabbage]

Oh yeah, ending a handful of communists careers is basically the same thing as murdering more innocent civilians than the total death toll of both world wars combined, including the holocaust...

[@johndeclan69]

USSR: bans modern art, making it illegal to have in your home USA: write that down! Write that down!

[@gregorymalchuk272]

It's totally consistent. Modern art was considered highly caustic and corrosive to the soul of a people. That's why the Soviets only ever allowed Socialist Realsim, which wasn't much different from National Socialist Germany. But they exported and encouraged modern art in capitalist countries. Picasso was literally a member of the Comintern.

[@aldo970]

Its interesting to me how the things usa criticized the urss to do to his people did it too

[@egormoryganov]

Well, though there were several anti-modernist campaigns under Soviets, it was all about social recognition and jobs for artists. As far as I know, just having any piece of art at home - or even exposing it - was never an issue.

[@cantspeakcantspeak79]

@@gregorymalchuk272 but by banning them breaks the first rule the founding fathers bragged America to keep it. freedom of speech

[@EuropeanQoheleth]

What ridiculous hyperbole. America's a libertine hellhole, not a totalitarian dystopia.

[@GOODYGOODGOOD789]

One of my most memorable history classes in high school was when the topic was first brought and we played a little game with it. All of the students were separated into groups and all students were given cards but at least one student in each group was given a card with a dot on it if we guessed correctly who had the dot and if we had the dot and no one guessed us we would get a piece of candy. We were all suspicious of each other and we all tried to find out what the other was hiding we all guessed that someone was hiding someone because someone else told us that at least one person in this group was hiding something.

[@tyronebonquaviusdaquan3562]

amogus..

[@navyntune8158]

​@@tyronebonquaviusdaquan3562Among Us indeed, fits the gameplay.

[@ganja_57]

Nobody: USA: I used authoritarianism to destory authoritarianism.

[@romanlegion2621]

Problem with that is?

[@romanlegion2621]

@Karl Marx ...Says the pinko

[@romanlegion2621]

@Karl Marx And I should with a guy named “Karl Marx”

[@romanlegion2621]

@Karl Marx mad at what? I’m happy 😃

[@f-35alightningii79]

@@romanlegion2621 You seem mad. The fact that you had to write “I’m happy” ironically does little to help your case.

[@blaskowitz7000]

"Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither"

[@DCBfanboy]

Not true.

[@aniketpandey2007]

Benjamin Franklin was a true statesman

[@Ghennesph]

And will lose both.

[@Xendrius]

Says the guy who probably believes alqaida did 9/11.

[@aniketpandey2007]

@@Xendrius And maybe thats the truth. To hoax something on such a large scale is simply impossible, apart from being highly improbable. Lets suppose you wish to bomb your own country to gain support for a war, would you really hit the beating heart of your financial capital ?? That too when you could do the same by blowing up a taxi or two ??

[@seanstone3232]

Ah yes, the original cancel culture...

[@banjokingoftheseamonkeys6079]

Spot on

[@hixidom2274]

Cancel culture is just one symptom of communist infiltration and indoctrination. All evidence points to McCarthy being right all along.

[@Nolant.]

Hix Idom McCarthy we know it’s you

[@whattawhaddaya6561]

Except it’s the right-wing version and perhaps more damaging than the left one.

[@kenneth9452]

@Negasso Kadir Democrats like Henry Ford supported the Nazis, Democrats refuesed to let Jews in American and sent them back to Germany, Democrats locked up thousands in internment camps without any rights, Democrats support strict gun control, Democrats support attacking people for their beilefs, they cause billions in damages ( look at the riots) and don't bother calling the riots right wing because the left is bailing out those rioters.

[@waldenwonders]

I love everything Patrick Smith animates! He’s very talented.

[@PatrickSmithAnimation]

too kind sir. this particular ted ed was really interesting to draw.. prob my fav

[@waldenwonders]

@@PatrickSmithAnimation That’s awesome, man! I really enjoyed the Hunter S. Thompson blank on blank video you did. Again, great work, my friend!

[@PatrickSmithAnimation]

@@waldenwonders yeah man, the later blank on blanks, like hunter or stephen king, were def a lot better than the early episodes.. i cringe at some of the early ones hahaha

[@KittyTGQ]

@@PatrickSmithAnimation My teacher showed this to the class today, and I could instantly tell you animated it! I was very shocked! As always, spectacular work!

[@PatrickSmithAnimation]

@@KittyTGQ awesome!! which school?

[@trishaangelinejavier9341]

Ted ed never dissapoint with their content and animation, you'll always have a lot to learn whenever you watch their informative videos

[@alejandromendez488]

This is basically a political version of the Salem witch trials.

[@gaayathribinoj6865]

Spot on! The Crucible (a famous play about those witch hunts) was written as an allegory for McCarthyism

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

Except there never were witches... communists actually existed in the US. A communist scientist from the US leaked info on our nucleur wepaons development to the Soviets...

[@Supercomet13A]

"there were no witches at those trials, but there were communists"

[@Tyler_W]

Sure, except a better comparison would be if Salem was actually full of bonafide witches. McCarthy is attributed a lot of things he didn't actually do, but his biggest mistake was actually thinking the legitimate problem he was addressing wasn't worse than he believed.

[@jjrcmr3789]

@@chickenfishhybrid44 there never were witches?! That’s what you think

[@somegirl4631]

_"sometimes humans fear their enemy so much, that they _*_become_*_ their enemy themselves"_

[@GunsandHondas]

Kinda reminds me to starwars...

[@user-uq3um5nq7d]

Exactly

[@arch4ngel]

“fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering...”

[@joshuaflores8532]

Very true.

[@beckc850]

Kinda playing out now

[@paulandreigillesania5359]

"Imagine that one day before a government panel ... you are repeatedly questioned about your political views, accused of disloyalty, and asked to incriminate your friends and associates." Me, a Filipino: Imagine?

[@RAFAEl78ist]

They (the Nixon government) also taught the comunist hunting activities to the military and police forces here in Chile, whith torture and murder included. Oh, and they also promoted and financed the military punch (military coup, according to google translator) in 1973

[@RAFAEl78ist]

@@Paonporteur do ur own reserxh if u don't believe me

[@user-justsomeone]

they kill all communism in south vietnam and south korea during cold war

[@sygneg7348]

@@Paonporteur Look up Operation Condor and military generals such as Jorge Rafael Videla and Augustino Pinochet. Those people were monsters, funded by the US.

[@limerence8365]

So it's like having an allergy. Your body over reacts to a foreign substance and it ends up harming you instead. That ending scared me!

[@averyseriousguy5784]

Limerence Weren’t that scared until I realized steve bannon is a thing

[@abigaylegeisel]

Wolf in sheep's clothing

[@satya4234]

Yeah, that's a good analogy!

[@randalldegracia4208]

Thank you you just answered my hw

[@Lord_of_all_based]

I would love for my body to harm itself in order to cleanse me of _the communism_

[@NymphsOrisons]

POV: You're a teacher and you've been teaching The Crucible for 7 years...

[@zorafilms]

Those witches don't exist. Communists do.

[@NymphsOrisons]

@@zorafilms well, witches do exist. So do communists.

[@Starcr8zy]

LOL I'M ON THAT MODULE NOW.

[@LindseyWood-lu1vr]

Looking for something fresh!

[@MrGamelover23]

@@zorafilms the whole point of The crucible was that it was an allegory for the red scare.

[@57highland]

I once tried to explain to my father the limitations of American power, military and otherwise, on the rest of the world (i.e., mainly the Third World), and he said, "When I was in high school, one of my teachers told us that the United States was the greatest country in the world, and that we (the U.S.) should be able to do whatever we want." My father was in high school from 1948 to 1952. (Back in the days when high schools were commonly named for iconic American presidents. My father attended Thomas Jefferson High School. Coincidentally, my mother attended James Madison High School.) I didn't think of it at the time, but later I wondered if the teacher who made that apparently memorable remark to his or her impressionable students had previously been required to take a "loyalty oath" and feared the possibility of losing his or her job should he or she describe U.S. power and prestige as anything less than suggested in the quote, and then being blacklisted.

[@jonnyd9351]

You should consider that during that time period, your fathers teacher was correct😂. The US had total power hegemony over the entire world.

[@googane7755]

​@@jonnyd9351Saying that it should be able to do whatever it wants is wrong tho and it sounds forced.

[@resikin]

Fantastic art, incredibly immersive and not distracting in the slightest!

[@acetate909]

Can you imagine what it must have been like to see politicians accusing each other of being Russian tools. It's a good thing we don't see that happening anymore.

[@DjMaxi005]

*laughing in Russiagate*

[@acetate909]

@@DA-wx9oz What? What's happening now is modern day Mccarthyism. How could you watch this and not connect it to what's going on today? Did you read the Mueller report? Do you have any idea wtf is going on? I didn't vote for Trump but it's obvious that Russiagate is fake. I guess it was meant to trick people like you.

[@Jose04537]

@@DA-wx9oz Again with beating that death horse?

[@f-35alightningii79]

@@acetate909 Did you read the Mueller report...

[@acetate909]

@@f-35alightningii79 I've read the relevant parts, most of it is legal nonsense and qualifier for more nonsense. Nothing in the Report shows Trump is beholden to Russia. There were maybe some process crimes committed- like perjury and obstruction of justice -but even those crimes were not substantiated and only occurred due to the commission of this fraudulent investigation. Several FBI agents are being prosecuted after admitting to forging evidence and lying under oath. The Mueller Report is state propaganda, and its not even good propaganda. This is all so transparently BS.

[@netnet_in_a_sweater9351]

Me: *hangs up a cool picture of my plunger* FBI: FBI OPEN UP

[@HeyKevinYT]

becuz it’s red like the communist blood

[@gayathribalasubramanian2795]

Carton shut it

[@nahster07]

lmao

[@themanfromtheeast2048]

this really made me laugh!!!

[@trenthenry4986]

@@HeyKevinYT isn't the republican party color red aswell

[@hapticity706]

As Europe and America bear witness to populist politics, Professor Papanek says he would not discount the possibility that a McCarthy could one day return. He says should that happen, it would be very difficult to combat and would require resistance from Americans in all walks of life. "It takes people with courage to stand up to people like McCarthy."

[@FeetFertilizer]

Please never stop making these they are so good to show in class!

[@noahk258]

“If your a good enough debater you can argue anything is a national security threat”- Professor Erik Fogel.

[@Morningstar_37]

anything's a national security threat if you're brave enough

[@braviary211]

Let's see, then. Butter is a national security threat because it's causing heart disease and obesity among so many Americans! _Butterflies_ are a national security threat because they splat on windshields causing car crashes! _Capitalism_ is a national security threat because... well... just look at the Gilded Age and the Great Depression.

[@johnr797]

What does that even mean? Yeah, I get the message he's trying to put across in his words, but using that as a quote? If you're good enough at subverting institutions you can make people quote Fogel and have them disregard threats to national security. If you're a good enough debater you can argue anything isn't a national security threat. Thank you, Mr. Fogel. Sorry about your foreskin.

[@keilanl1784]

Can we just appreciate this awesome creative art?

[@BobBob-yr4qo]

Keilan L the art is pretty good

[@IggyTthunders]

It's hard when it's dignifying barefaced lies.

[@rokkfel4999]

@@IggyTthunders explain?

[@clipboss8052]

.. You just might be a Communist

[@munendersingh5631]

Truer

[@rustyshackle8000]

I can't remember who exactly said it, but there's a quote that I feel sums up the Second Red Scare perfectly "Joseph McCarthy has done more damage to democracy than Communism ever could."

[@jonnyd9351]

Most likely a communist who denied all acts of subversion

[@cg0825]

The Arthur Miller play The Crucible was a portrayal of the Salem witch trials in the late 17th century, however it was written during the McCarthy era because he wanted to draw a direct comparison between 1690's Salem and Joe McCarthy's communist hunt of the 1950's. McCarthyism spread to the entertainment industry and many very famous people of that time were accused--even Lucille Ball (of "I Love Lucy") and famous silent film actor Charlie Chaplin.

[@mercce6750]

Nobody: McCarthy when someone shares a chocolate bar: COMMIEEEEE! COMIEEEEEE! REEEEEEEEEEE!

[@ahlixemus8903]

Underrated Comment

[@dssilverdynamix4113]

Sam O'nella Moment

[@emmanystedt2393]

@@dssilverdynamix4113 I'm glad I wasn't the only one to get the reference

[@DukeOfKidderminster]

That mentality never really went away did it?

[@emmanystedt2393]

@@DukeOfKidderminster Afraid not

[@daareondemon1899]

Died three years after targeting the army "probably alcoholism"

[@MamaFeng]

Yeah, he most likely died of alcoholism because these kind of people don't get assassinated. But people who want progress generally have such a crazy opposition that they *do* get killed, prime example: MLK.

[@EuropeanQoheleth]

sigh Will Americans stop blaming everything on conspiracy theories? Correlation DOES NOT imply causation.

[@theneedle6785]

How many Russian doctors have to accidentally fall out of Windows before anyone notices?

[@BGNOLA]

@@MamaFeng Trying to stop a totalitarian regime from infiltrating your government is progressive.

[@caseyrayharris.esquire489]

Right.. Epsteined. Perception is everything, Someone taught us, showed us. & there for we must share this with others. Create full pictures by exposing operation northwoods, project mk ultra, the Gulf of Tonkin incident, mcarthyism, JFK files withheld by Russian backed president. He had a trump tower moscow presidential sweet to give putin for free. Signed letter of intent during campaign. This is ted talks here. It's for real you all

[@jrk9679]

“But evidence accumulated from a variety of sources-including Soviet archives-since the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s shows that McCarthy’s charges were, in numerous cases, neither false nor hysterical-but correct.“ From The Vindication of Joseph McCarthy by Andrew Bernstein

[@louischristopher7116]

I notice some similarities of that era in comparison to today in the political scene.

[@darthhodges]

It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. Skilled politicians know that you win not with facts and good ideas but by playing on people's emotions, and fear is one of the easiest to exploit. As a wise Muppet once said, "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." which applies perfectly here.

[@57highland]

Herman Goering said the same when he was being interviewed during the Nuremberg trials. He said, "You do two things. One: You tell the people there is a threat to the nation. Two: You accuse anyone who disagrees with you of being disloyal." The doctor questioning him, an American, said, "That strategy could not succeed in the United States. The people can, and do, question their leaders." Goering: "It works under any political system: monarchy, dictatorship, or republic. *The people can always be brought to the bidding of their leaders."*

[@harlequinsforlife]

Yoda

[@eyuin5716]

Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Kinda like what's happening now

[@jovan1198]

Ęÿūį Æßñ They say history repeats itself, first as tragedy then as farce

[@realscummy]

Jovan Emeric that is what Marx says...

[@AvailableUsernameTed]

Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

[@jovan1198]

Pipe2DevNull iseewhatyoudidthere

[@Dowlphin]

Those who don't learn from history will repeatedly play Doom.

[@barrymccollom2303]

In 1980 while at UT- Austin I had the privilege to hear John Henry Faulk speak to my Journalism class. He described a group called AWARE that would put entertainer's names on a list of people with "known Communist ties." This threatened one's ability to get work or then as now, lucrative endorsements! If you let them shake you down for 50,000 dollars they would take your name off the list. John Henry ran as union president of the radio actor's guild on an anti- AWARE platform. That put him in Mccarthy's crosshairs!

[@pillypuppy666]

That last scene with the sheep actually scared me so much (more the animation than what the narrator was saying) that I didn't dare touch my device until it went to the credits.

[@sheltertwo7957]

“Could it happen again?” -um yeah dude it’s happening right now

[@volvob1884]

Right now?

[@RandomPerson-go5sn]

Big Dab for sure, we just call it cancel culture.

[@volvob1884]

@Asura Khæñ Really? That's too bad

[@malalalalala2985]

Yeah Russiagate

[@jack-yb1wk]

Pretty much yeah lol, the mainstream/corporate media try to smear non-establishment politicians (such as Bernie) as being support by the Russians or for being "Russian assets."

[@bruhchamp16593]

“If she weighs the same as a duck, she’s made of wood!” “And therefore...?” *“A WITCH! A WITCH! A WITCH!”*

[@spudwesth]

500 traitor ducks in the gov't.

[@satya4234]

"BUUUUURN HEEER!!!!"

[@johnpeitz5856]

r/unexpectedmontypython

[@satya4234]

@@johnpeitz5856 Of course there's a subreddit for that lol

[@ashleyfroud5015]

"It's a fair cop."

[@Eliezer3838]

Thanks for the vid. I was really confused on this topic.

[@smickandily]

This is very uncanny. To know that the same wrongs have been perpetrated for so many years in this country is disheartening.

[@ellicdote2015]

This Video: *’Says anything’* Me, with an essay due: *Write that down, write that down!*

[@pietro4352]

Lynelli loooool

[@jesusdiscipledon1499]

Cite your source.

[@kaslanakiana3927]

And my darling, that is called “direct plagiarism”

[@ellicdote2015]

解忧曲 - I was actually taking notes for the essay to find evidence! Not to steal the content of the video- I couldn't make that very clear in the comment, but I was just taking notes and made sure I properly cited my sources when I finished! So no plagiarism here :D

[@jesusdiscipledon1499]

Lynelli Good. Keep it that way.

[@drpattiethomas]

This video has some historical errors. First, the house continued to investigate "unamerican activities" well into the 70s long after McCarthy was censured. Second, the blacklist also outlived McCarthy, not really fully ending until early to mid 60s. Finally, a sin of omission. Democrats participated in this witch hunt, most notably Robert Kennedy who assisted McCarthy directly and JFK used the "soft on communism" accusation against Nixon in 1960. This was more widespread and deeper than this video leads us to believe.

[@mikuhatsunegoshujin]

save our souls

[@awhodothey]

Yeah, also of note is that the communist party usa actually was funded by Russia and the Verona code revealed that there actually were over a hundred communist spies in the state department...

[@llepsnaci1]

Those communists were doing good work to help the USSR save us from ourselves. McCarthy set us back hundreds of years because he made everyone afraid of accepting communism.

[@supremecaffeine2633]

@@llepsnaci1 America doesn't need some idealistic poison that's killed nearly 100 million people.

[@defiy2921]

Irrelevant

[@jericholocke8050]

i have to watch this for an assignment for class and tbh i want to crawl into a hole and cry cause i don't understand this. if by some miracle my teacher sees this, please spare us. i'm 2 mins in and i got lost a minute ago and god forbid I rewind...

[@zurzakne-etra7069]

anyone here because of Oppenheimer?

[@betaace4428]

Arthur Miller wrote "The Crucible" as a direct response to this. I got to be in it and it's shocking how well he nailed the idea down, using an actual witch hunt to symbolize this idea with the Salem witch trials. A genius of a man that refused to give any names of people that were thought to be communists when he was interrogated excellently captured the mob mentality and hysteria that happened in that time.

[@FuzDoesStuff]

There is also Fahrenheit 451

[@FirstNameLastName-wt5to]

It’s just unfortunate that he took so many historical liberties with actual people and ended up spreading false history.

[@jbisd]

This Sounds Familiar

[@haruhifujioka5952]

Yes It Does

[@thuse5532]

too familiar.....

[@brq267]

What is this comment referencing?

[@JSPena]

@@brq267 Cancel Culture I guess.

[@tankinator451]

Imagine hanging "bold and brash" in your house as a joke and having to appear in front of congress 3 days later because they think you're a communist.

[@olsparkywisenheimer8239]

And here we are once again. Never learning from our past..

[@Rebecca-qj1uk]

APPLAUSE FOR THE HARDWORKING ARTISTS WHO CREATED THIS STUNNING ANIMATION!!!

[@andreiz112dn5]

They are communists!

[@cartergomez5390]

Your comment deserves to be on top!

[@MandraMockups]

@@cartergomez5390 agreed

[@jonahulichny9874]

@@andreiz112dn5 please tell me your joking

[@PhilipYayson]

Land of the free...

[@albertlintos8183]

Nobody can be free under communism.

[@loser7128]

Albert Lintos you’re wrong, communism is literally anarchy

[@heliogabriel8125]

"Land of the free You can be anything you want Think and act of any way you want to Except if you don't agree with the government American dream"

[@trillionbones89]

...home of the paranoid.

[@polskastrong8558]

@@heliogabriel8125 Land is free comrade but if you disagree off to gulag you go, to join the 100 million others "THE -ISM OF PEAACE BROS"

[@Count1jt]

We are going through it right now.

[@unasperanza9803]

Make people believe absurdities and they will commit atrocities- the last 2 years

[@awalkoflife6721]

"Thousands of lives" is an understatement, and ignoring the fact that US politics against communism cut millions of lives short on this mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

[@user-fg8ux8zo6w]

and to this day, they still keep running their foreign policy, so if it's not against communism it's against some other excuse to genocide people lmao

[@idkwhatnametochoose6197]

Me: i kinda like unions McCarthy: AHHH COMMUNIST!!!!!

[@andreiz112dn5]

Another fking communist...

[@Thoralmir]

Unions literally serve no further purpose in modern society.

[@andreiz112dn5]

@@Thoralmir Wdym , what if your boss want's to cut 90% of your wage, and threaten you with destroying your reputation(so you can't get another job) if you leave , and you can't leave the city cause you are poor and you have a wife with 4 childrens and he ruthlessly exploit you and no one to protect you

[@Thoralmir]

@@andreiz112dn5 You had to create that unrealistically extreme scenario just for the sake of an argument, didn't you?

[@Thoralmir]

@@andreiz112dn5 Also, don't count on unions to lift a finger to help you out, unless there's something in it for the union bosses. They're basically like the mafia at this point.

[@nahushkanitkar8194]

Wasn't it proven later partially?

[@malogibeaux4946]

no

[@thatboi7492]

Please make a video expanding on this topic and intertwining it with Arthur Miller's "The Crucible"

[@heyhanibee]

"And if new demagogues appeared in uncertain times to attack unpopular minorities in the name of patriotism, could it all happen again?" it already has.

[@liaml.e.5964]

It always will, because it has ALWAYS worked.

[@tuanho2314]

why?

[@user-vx9to3vf4m]

@Andrew Jenkins Get out of here 👉

[@whenthe7444]

@Andrew Jenkins 👉🚪

[@mrspleasants8529]

If we keep our constitutional rights protected then it can't happen. Unfortunately, our constitution is being used as political toilet paper. What is the lesson here...we can only KEEP our rights preserved under the constitution if we are willing to fight for them.

[@giggles7179]

Why does this feel so timely?

[@b.m.whindle9195]

So glad this was part of my studies, and my teachers who helped to understand in an unbiased view.

[@quintenwhyte6660]

"The truth is that... mutants are very real and there are among us! We must to know who they are... and above all we must know....what they can do!"- Senator Kelly, X-Men (2000)

[@levongevorgyan6789]

Well, he is right. We can't have teenagers with the power to destroy nations running around unsupervised.

[@danielhyberg2590]

Guns are ok though

[@meetroushan2727]

@@danielhyberg2590 maybe even a few atom bombs

[@mynameismmandimheretosay7979]

Didn’t expect someone to quote another in such a grammatically-correct way in the KZbin comments section.

[@Nyghtking]

Well I mean the guy who can snap his fingers and split atoms, and the guy who can alter reality with a thought are pretty dangerous.

[@myamya5571]

I can't be the only one here because of online school

[@aayushkamdar6346]

same

[@tapewormoffthestring]

i have to watch this for online school

[@q60_sal17]

yessir

[@As3nOne]

Same

[@As3nOne]

But let’s be honest no one is here willingly

[@TheySchlendrian]

Its funny how even in this video red scare is still present, painting the Soviet Union as Bad Guys.

[@thunderchief2006]

they were the bad guys

[@GOODYGOODGOOD789]

look up "Holodomor."

[@007_Productions]

​@@thunderchief2006No, they were not. The U.S. has been on the wrong side of history during every political it has engaged in after World War II.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin Reading the comments seem like many forgot

[@mallow5828]

Friend during class: hey, got a pencil? Me: sure, here you g- FBI agent, kicking down the door: YOU'RE UNDER ARREST FOR REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITY

[@michael24taggart]

"Those who fight against monsters might take care, least they thereby become a monster themselves." - Nietzsche.

[@rimfire8217]

Indeed

[@caseyrayharris.esquire489]

I will never forget this quote

[@proletariennenaturiste]

Communists aren't monsters...

[@damdaley8092]

I highly recommend the movie Good Night and Good Luck, a great movie both as a period piece of the 50s, aa well as a scathing criticism of McCarthyism.

[@jonnyd9351]

Criticism or disingenuous lie

[@damdaley8092]

@@jonnyd9351 elaborate

[@thefatcat594]

Why was the ending so scary tho? i thought my heart stopped 💀

[@notsomuch6414]

It's like a scarecrow shop in the comment section. So many strawmen.

[@blah7983]

Anna Xia Nice 👍

[@fulcrum2951]

But these scarecrows are so expensive

[@funkiewunkie4865]

Is that a FREEDOM TOONS REFENCE

[@olivevkb]

Pretty much all KZbin comment sections are cancerous.

[@pandagal9805]

Ikr

[@l3g0b0y6]

Learning that McCarthy is a fellow Wisconsinite has made me once again embarrassed that we have ties to such people.

[@ImperiumMagistrate]

McCarthy was a hero

[@AnAppleThatHappensToBeRed]

@@ImperiumMagistrate he was a villan and undemocratic

[@tyberiuszXIV]

@@AnAppleThatHappensToBeRed Democracy isn't a virtue.

[@archiemelkonian]

You should be proud moron! He was right.. we almost in communist country. Mandates , masks … didn’t wake u up??

[@archiemelkonian]

@@ImperiumMagistrate10000%

[@spaghettiisyummy.3623]

The Ending spooked the Living Soul out of me.

[@haileymisegadis5501]

0:57 that is the look of “dude. Wtf?”

[@mandarinsandclementines2997]

Dude, uncool

[@gumunduringigumundsson9344]

Almost ruined the united states of America. That period was awash with fear and uncertainty, I´m so sorry. We all should learn from this. Thank you.

[@lesthodson2802]

#MeToo

[@abdulmasaiev9024]

Look around the comments. Nothing was learned and if it started up again it would have wide support from the numerous "let's trample on freedoms in the name of FREEDAM" crowd.

[@midimusicforever]

"almost"

[@umwhoalol]

Meanwhile china has basically destroyed the world in the name of communism...congrats guys maccarthy was definitely wrong we swear.

[@user-uq3um5nq7d]

@@umwhoalol if you actually see China, it's not longer Communist, it's more to socialist and has a bit of capitalistic value

[@Heywoodthepeckerwood]

Yeah…judging by the current situation in colleges and movie houses. They didn’t go far enough…

[@jonahulichny9874]

You missed the point of the video.

[@VilliageSquidiot]

I'm just going to remind everyone that political parties like Democrats and republicans have changed over the years. The way the parties function today is different because technology and education has evolved our understanding of ourselves, others, and the world around us.

[@pepcarboxylase3802]

This is exactly what happened in my country too. now i know the name of it hehe but i think south korea was more brutal and not only people lost jobs, they used torture as a way of 'confession'. some people, even young students died during the torture of governments. it was the horrifying dark ages of south korea.

[@marcioulianamarcio2241]

It happened in almost all the countries....Search for New State and Militar Dictatorship of 64.Censorship,torture,disappearing,exhile,and some deaths,of course.Dark years of Brazil.And think that Brazil passes by dark years almost everytime...Bolsonaro sucks.

[@claimyourshame6196]

Came here to brush up my knowledge because part 2 has definitely begun.

[@volvob1884]

Part 2?!

[@ms.ripley3236]

Huh?

[@cameronelwood1443]

I know this topic is serious, but I just had to take a screenshot of the frame with Stalin and Uncle Sam vs Hilter. It looks like something straight out of Pizza Tower, and I love it

[@lexiisbritish9894]

I have an English assessment on the crucible next week and so I am watching this because we have to link them 😭

[@isabelmacdermott470]

Anyone else realising that what he said at the end has already happened so many times.

[@fuak_tu8371]

My great grandfather was accused of this. He served in the army and ended up resigning due to the pressure caused by the recklessness created by McCarthy

[@akshaybinayke]

Cheers to all those who came to watch this after watching Oppenheimer 🍻😅

[@moraesneto9508]

Although McCarthyism is widely criticised for its violations of civil rights and its practises of intimidation and persecution, some argue that it has had some benefits, such as: 1. Focus on national security: McCarthyism increased vigilance about potential threats to the national security of the United States, especially during the Cold War. 2. Awareness of communism: The intensification of investigations into alleged communist sympathisers helped to raise public awareness of the perceived dangers of communism and to strengthen support for the fight against it. 3. Strengthening American loyalty: Many Americans saw McCarthyism as a way to reaffirm their loyalty to American values and the democratic system in opposition to communism. However, it is important to note that these "benefits" are highly controversial and are usually outweighed by the damage caused by McCarthyism, including the destruction of careers, the suppression of freedom of expression and association, and the climate of fear and distrust it generated in American society.

[@malogibeaux4946]

all of this starts with the assumption that communism is dangerous. Wich in inself is just more propaganda.

[@mickeyinz558]

You should of talked about how Charlie Chaplin was a victim of McCarthyism

[@lagg3sbd394]

And Einstein

[@braviary211]

Well, he was a victim of the First Red Scare more than the Second, IIRC.

[@barrywithers8913]

McCarthy would have a field day in 2020 ..

[@Reaper-ds9vx]

LOL, so true and he might have been right but he would be very unpopular and deemed as a far-right conspiracy theorist like alex Jones level. But he was right in the end.

[@deadlanguageMA]

Reaper lol conservatives are always really excited at the thought of giving up their rights to authoritarians

[@romanlegion2621]

@@deadlanguageMA so are lefties

[@romanlegion2621]

@@FulllNameUnknown “random”? 😆

[@Tristan.Suba.44]

@@deadlanguageMA So true, indeed !!!! 😂😂😂

[@TheGreatGonzales777]

I truly hope to see a terrifying video like this about cancel culture 40 years from now.

[@thatcoconut2642]

I totally recognized the animation style from pour 585 and thought immediately that it's got to be the same animator, I was right.

[@helious5056]

God I love the guy who animated this. His work on blank on blank I adore

[@PatrickSmithAnimation]

Thank you, I really appreciate that! Keep in touch:)

[@helious5056]

@@PatrickSmithAnimation I will my dude

[@thinara6197]

I just realised that this is like the 10th Ted-Ed video I watched today 🤦‍♀️

[@i_acidentaly]

What app did you use to make the drawings

[@khalidgagnon8753]

There is one thing that needs to be mentioned here: there was a reason for concern..... The nuke had just been stolen, and that "file" mentioned had 300 officials on it that were talking with Russia. These people included advisors to the president and a treasury secretary... Yeah..... Not buying the "there was no real concern bit" However, despite this it went to far still.... Did you really win against communism if you became a dictatorship yourself?

[@afriendlyskeptic]

There's an amazing work called 'The Crucible' written by Arthur Miller as an allegory for McCarthyism. He himself was questioned and convicted of contempt for not giving out names of people who attended meetings with him. I recommend it highly.

[@godetaalibaba2522]

As usual it's a good job, It could have been nice to talk a bit about Robert Oppenheimer one of the biggest victim of macCarthyism and also a really amazing scientist ^^ Apart from this the animation and explanations are great like always! :D

[@Progamermove_2003]

The one man that turned US into the nuclear superpower became a victim of McCarthyism as well?! And btw, while the McCarthyists were busy in sending thousands of innocent people to jail, KGB agents continued to infiltrate with relatively little resistance.

[@Luke-id8ql]

He could have mentioned the Rosenbergs

[@Liberty7628]

I have become Bart the Simpson

[@andyvassileff6592]

I searched Како тодорке, and old Bulgarian song that I suddenly remembered the name of and I have been taken to a TED talk.

[@asankajayaweera7212]

Americans preach us democratic values but when you look at their own history they have acted contrast to what they preach to others.

[@cockatooinsunglasses7492]

So basically Franz Kafka was kind of a fortune teller.

[@ms.ripley3236]

What do you mean?

[@cockatooinsunglasses7492]

@@ms.ripley3236 read "The Trial".

[@ms.ripley3236]

@@cockatooinsunglasses7492 what does it have in connection with this vid?

[@cockatooinsunglasses7492]

@@ms.ripley3236 being randomly snapped up by beuracracy for an extended amount without a legitimate reason and having it ruin your life inspite of you being neither guilty or innocent. Basically a system where you never win but always lose for no reason. Almost the very definition of "Kafkaesque".

[@ms.ripley3236]

@@cockatooinsunglasses7492 ooh. yeah true i just knew the term "Kafkaesque" last year, i think. This term should be more known.

[@THATAWSOMEGUYXD2020]

This aged well

[@rimfire8217]

It’s history It must age well

[@randompatriot]

"Could it happen again?" *The "triple K" intensifies*

[@AznRUs]

I never hear anything good when Nixon's name is brought up.

[@keelan270]

“Fear itself isn’t worthy of concern, it is who we become while in its clutches . Will you be proud of that person? Will you forgive them? Will you understand why they felt the need to do the things they did? Will you even recognize them? Or will the person staring back at you be the very thing you should have feared from the start? I suppose we all find out sooner or later. “ - Ozpin

[@thesovietowl7145]

My great-grandparents were members of the American Communist Party, and they were followed down the street while they had my grandmother in a stroller xD

[@AKeyearea8]

Good!

[@commmander64]

I am sorry to hear of your great grand parents struggles. It was very unamerican to censor and spy on anyone like that.

[@sarahgower2903]

My great grandparents were also American Communists. They were great people who did a lot of amazing things for their community. All of it meant nothing during this time. They were threatened and harassed constantly.

[@username-mm8bm]

@Prashant do you have any idea how deportation work, you numbskull?

[@Zooboo1]

Communism is great......in a Communist country.. Capitalism in a Democratic Republic is the envy of all..