Tuesday, March 31, 2009

McCarthyism

"At the heigh of the McCarthy era . . . We all had to testify before the House of UnAmerican Activities Committee..." (Under the Hood, Chapter 5, Page 11)

Joseph McCarthy was a senator from Wisconsin who was a major player in the Communist witch hunt in the 40's and 50's. The House of UnAmerican Activities required anyone who was named a Communist supposrter or participant to testify to theior activies and name any co-conspirators. The fact that Moore had the Minutemen testify before the Committee shows the reader that during the McCarthy Era, no one was safe from the witch hunt, not even the heroes who were supposed to be more American and patriotic than anyone else. The testifying of the Minutemen also adds a realistic touch of context to the novel.

Link: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAmccarthyism.htm

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