McCarthyism: The Realities, Delusions and Politics Behind the 1950s Red Scare(Critical Moments in American History)

In this succinct text, Jonathan Michaels examines the rise of anti-communist sentiment in the postwar United States, exploring the factors that facilitated McCarthyism and assessing the long-term effects on US politics and culture. McCarthyism:The Realities, Delusions and Politics Behind the 1950s Red Scare offers an analysis of the ways in which fear of communism manifested in daily American life, giving readers a rich understanding of this era of postwar American history. Including primary documents and a companion website, Michaels’ text presents a fully integrated picture of McCarthyism and the cultural climate of the United States in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: America and Socialism, Anarchism, and Communism Chapter 2: The Rise of Anticommunist Sentiment Chapter 3: The New Deal, The Fair Deal, and Liberalism Chapter 4: Enormous Shadows: The Irrational Fear of Communists Chapter 5: The Legacy of the Red Scare

Review :
"This lucid account of the red scare of the early 1950s could hardly be bettered. It rightly places that disturbing phenomenon into a much longer perspective, and it illustrates the whole sorry business with a fascinating range of documents conjuring reds on the campuses and gays in government." - Michael Heale, Emeritus Professor of History at Lancaster University. UK "The great strength of this highly engaging study is its wide-ranging scope. Michaels traces the long trajectory of virulent anticommunism, detailing its genesis, development and outlook. He effectively analyses both the proponents of "un-Americanism"– a combination of vested business interests, opportunistic politicians and ultra-conservative institutions, organizations and networks – and the corrosive impact of red scare ideology: fear, silence and sharply narrowed boundaries of dissent. It is an important and timely book." - Phillip Deery, author of Red Apple: Communism and McCarthyism in Cold War New York "This lively book offers a helpful introduction to Red Scare politics in the United States...Given that Red Scare politics has been characterized by chaotic diversity and the erratic fortunes of many of its key advocates, syntheses can easily slip into long lists of disaggregated grouplets and controversies; instead, Michaels provides broader contextualization and narrative detail to render his picture vivid. It is also commendably balanced...this book succeeds admirably at its core goal of providing an energetic and accessible introduction to the subject. Those teaching McCarthyism at school or university should give it a look." - Alex Goodall, University College London