Political Climate of the 1950s

Solution Preview

Please see response attached, which is also presented below, I hope this helps and take care.

Response:

Interesting review question! Let's take a closer look through discussion and links for further reading.

1. How did McCarthyism, conservatism, politics of consensus, consumerism, civil rights movement, the relationship of south Asia and us impact the political climate of the 1950s?

The 1950s are noted in United States history as having a political climate both compliance and conformity and also, to a lesser extent, of rebellion. Major U.S. events during the decade included: McCarthyism, conservatism, politics of consensus, consumerism, civil rights movement, and the relationship of South Asia and the U.S.

1. McCarthyism

McCarthyism is a major event in US history. It is the term describing a period of intense anti-Communist suspicion in the United States that lasted roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s. The term derives from U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, a Republican of Wisconsin. The period of McCarthyism is also referred to as the Second Red Scare, and coincided with a period of increased fears of Communist influence on American institutions and espionage by Soviet agents.

In the 1950s, it was a time of political unrest for those being accused. For example, during this time many thousands of Americans were accused of being Communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations and questioning before government or private-industry panels, committees and agencies. The primary targets of such suspicions were government employees, those in the entertainment industry, educators and union activists. Suspicions were often given credence despite inconclusive or questionable evidence, and the level of threat posed by a person's real or supposed leftist associations or beliefs was often greatly exaggerated. Many people suffered loss of employment, destruction of their careers, and even imprisonment. Most of these punishments came about through trial verdicts that would later be overturned,[1] laws that would later be declared unconstitutional,[2] dismissals for reasons that would be later declared illegal[3] or actionable,[4] or extra-legal procedures that would later come into general disrepute. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Red_Scare

2. Conservatism

Conservatism is a political philosophy that favors traditional values. The term derives from the Latin, conservāre, to conserve; "to keep, guard, observe". Since different cultures have different established values, conservatives in different cultures have different goals. Some conservatives seek to preserve the status quo, while others seek to return to the values of an earlier time, the status quo ante. From the 1950s to the rise of Ronald Reagan, National Review defined mainstream conservatism. Bill Buckley was its public hero and his associate Frank Meyer was the leader of the working ...