What was the cause of McCarthyism?

Answer 1

McCarthyism occurred because the people were not paying close attention. It arose out of the fear of Communism and paranoia. Before the nation realized it, the nation was embroiled in an unfair witch hunt that destroyed many lives. People were afraid that communists were infiltrating everywhere. Tenuous evidence was used to defame, discredit, and convict several people for ties to Communism.

Answer 2

McCarthyism refers to the metaphorical witch hunt which took place in the 1950s, where innocent people were made to go before a government committee to prove they were not communists. It was caused by the Cold War and the fear of the spread of communism to democratic countries.