Read about McCarthyism on slide 5 of 10. Explain the purpose of the House Un-American Activities Committee, and what you see that was wrong with their methods/beliefs.
The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was created in 1938 with the purpose of investigating alleged disloyalty and subversive activities by individuals or organizations suspected of having ties to communism. However, during the height of the Red Scare in the 1950s, HUAC became notorious for its aggressive tactics and disregard for due process.
HUAC conducted highly publicized hearings where individuals were summoned to testify about their political beliefs and associations. Those who refused to cooperate or invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination were often labeled as "uncooperative" or "un-American." This led to damaging consequences for their careers and personal lives, as they were blacklisted from employment opportunities or socially ostracized.
The methods and beliefs of HUAC were deeply problematic because they violated basic principles of free speech and presumption of innocence. The committee's practices of guilt by association and political persecution stoked fear and paranoia, creating a climate of McCarthyism where accusations alone were enough to ruin lives. Additionally, HUAC's focus on rooting out communism led to the suppression of legitimate dissent and the trampling of civil liberties.
In conclusion, the House Un-American Activities Committee played a significant role in perpetuating the witch hunt mentality of McCarthyism, sacrificing individual rights and freedoms in the name of national security.