McCarthyism

McCarthyism was a campaign of fear and persecution of left-wing individuals and alleged communist sympathizers in the United States during the late 1940s to the 1950s. It was led by U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, who made unsubstantiated accusations of communist infiltration of American institutions, resulting in the loss of employment, careers, and livelihoods for many individuals, as well as imprisonment for some. The campaign was marked by reckless and unsubstantiated accusations of treason and far-left extremism, as well as demagogic personal attacks on the character and patriotism of political adversaries.learn more on wikipedia