In Margaret Chase Smith’s “Declaration of Conscience,” she states: Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism— The right to criticize. The right to hold unpopular beliefs. The right to protest. The right to independent thought. What purpose did Senator Smith intend her words to serve in the midst of the Second Red Scare? (1 point) Responses She challenges the Senate to criticize and protest those who “shout the loudest about Americanism." She challenges the Senate to criticize and protest those who “shout the loudest about Americanism." She condemns those who would criticize the government for identifying and punishing Communists. She condemns those who would criticize the government for identifying and punishing Communists. She acknowledges that thinking independently and holding unpopular beliefs is unwise in politics. She acknowledges that thinking independently and holding unpopular beliefs is unwise in politics. She identifies the hypocrisy of blaming those who criticize the government as being un-American. She identifies the hypocrisy of blaming those who criticize the government as being un-American.
Senator Smith intended her words to serve as a reminder that in the midst of the Red Scare, it is essential to uphold the principles of Americanism, including the right to criticize, hold unpopular beliefs, protest, and think independently. She was challenging those who were using accusations of being un-American to silence dissent and promote conformity, and urging her colleagues in the Senate to stand up for these fundamental rights. By pointing out the hypocrisy of those who claim to be defenders of Americanism while suppressing these rights, she sought to push back against the climate of fear and intolerance that characterized the Second Red Scare.
