The Crucible Internet Research 1
The Crucible Internet Research Assignment
The McCarthy Era
Use this website to assist you in answering the first two questions:
http://trackedinamerica.org/timeline/mccarthy_era/intro/
1. What convinced the American public that Communist spies were among them? In your
own words, give some information about this situation.
2. What was the HUAC? What was this committee’s role and what effect did they have on
other groups of people?
Use this website to assist you in answering the following questions:
http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/mccarthyism.htm/printable
3. Who was Joseph McCarthy and when during what time period did he have the most
power?
4. What is McCarthyism?
5. What is Communism?
6. What incident in 1950 launched McCarthy into the public spotlight?
7. How did McCarthy identify suspected communists?
The Crucible Internet Research 2
8. Describe the interview tactics McCarthy used in his investigations.
9. How does The Crucible relate to McCarthyism?
10. Infer why so many people supported McCarthy.
11. Summarize the reason for his downfall.
Use this website to assist you in answering the following questions:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/fire.html
12. Look at the political cartoon titled “You mean I’m supposed to stand on that?”. This was
the first time the term “McCarthyism” was introduced to the world. Summarize the point
that cartoonist Herbert Block was making with this visual image.
13. Choose one more political cartoon from this site. Explain what message is
communicated through the picture and how. Print a copy of the cartoon as well.