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

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.

[gass]

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

[raphuscucullatus]

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

[limerence]

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!

[movie]

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.

[johndeclan]

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

[somegirl]

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

[acetate]

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.

[fastsnake]

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.

[blaskowitz]

"Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither"

[keilanl]

Can we just appreciate this awesome creative art?

[NymphsOrisons]

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

[waldenwonders]

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

[netnet_in_a_sweater]

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

[noahk]

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

[alejandromendez]

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

[GOODYGOODGOOD]

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.

[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.

[daareondemon]

Died three years after targeting the army "probably alcoholism"

[seanstone]

Ah yes, the original cancel culture...

[trishaangelinejavier]

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