According to Senator Margaret Chase Smith, how does McCarthy’s anti-communism pose a threat to American democracy and freedom?
3 thoughts on “Week 2 Day 1 Discussion Question 5”
Emma Brown
During the Cold War, the basic ideals upon which America was founded on were threatened for the public became increasingly fearful of the consequences they would face for practicing their freedom of speech, belief, and protest, and in turn were unable to exercise the basic right of individuality. In her “National Suicide” speech, Senator Margaret Chase Smith highlights the importance of maintaining these freedoms despite the turmoil they may cause, as ultimately they are what makes America America. Yet in a time where being a proud American was imperative in combatting encroaching Communist ideas, people were hesitant to exercise these rights and act as individuals in fear of persecution. With McCarthy’s anti-communistic rhetoric in the limelight and the growing participation of the blame game that was so rapidly spreading across the nation, people prioritized their safety as they watched more and more citizens go on trial for speaking their minds and beliefs. Senator Smith understands the hypocrisy of the government as they called for patriotism and Americanism while simultaneously pressuring the public into social and ideological conformity, and states that in order for American democracy to retain its power and overall prominence in the world, McCarthy’s anti-communistic threats must be subdued.
Senator Margaret Chase Smith wrote a “Declaration of Conscience,” on June 1, 1950, addressed to the President of the United States as a denunciation of McCarthyism. She criticizes Joseph McCarthy for his attack on “Individual Freedom.” Smith, along with seven other Republic Senators, agree that there was a lack of effective leadership in the United States government. Smith argues that Anti-communism infringes upon Americans’ rights to criticize, hold unpopular beliefs, to protest, and to hold independent thought. The fear of being labeled as a communist or fascist began costing Americans their livelihood and their independence, as they feared for their reputations. Chase argues that exercising these constitutional rights should not “cost one single American his reputation,” “merely because he happens to know someone who hold unpopular beliefs.” Joseph McCarthy’s public accusations of American citizens, whom he believed to be communists, invoked fear throughout the country, threatening the very essence of democracy in America. More importantly, it threated freedom of speech, a crucial right in America’s democracy that every citizen should feel safe exercising. Chase writes, “as an American,” she wants to see the “Nation recapture the strength and unity it once had when we fought the enemy instead of ourselves.” In the statement of the seven Republican Senators, they express their “concern with the growing confusion that threatens the security and stability of our country.” In their fight against Communism, the United States fought an internal battle, turning on one another instead of unifying.
In her speech to the senate, Senator Margaret Chase Smith reminds the other senators that their duty is to uphold the constitution, and she specifically refers to freedom of speech and trial by jury. She then goes on to say that the people who are making character assassinations in the name of americanism are themselves violating the basic principle of americanism; “The right to criticize; The right to hold unpopular beliefs; The right to protest; The right of independent thought.” Although Senator Smith never actually mentions Senator McCarthy’s name, I think much of what she advises in her speech applies directly to him. A lot of what she says has to do with the well being of the Republican Party, and that they shouldn’t have to resort to character assassinations to defeat the democrats. However, when Senator Smith talks about upholding the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and the right to a trial by jury , she is talking more in regard to the threat to American democracy and the freedom of the American people as a whole that just the well-being of the Republican Party. Character assassinations might make the Republican Party look bad and be a detriment to their political success but when it comes American Democracy, the attacks on free-speech and jury by trial are definitely a threat and, “if continued here unchecked, will surely end what we have come to cherish as the American way of life.”
During the Cold War, the basic ideals upon which America was founded on were threatened for the public became increasingly fearful of the consequences they would face for practicing their freedom of speech, belief, and protest, and in turn were unable to exercise the basic right of individuality. In her “National Suicide” speech, Senator Margaret Chase Smith highlights the importance of maintaining these freedoms despite the turmoil they may cause, as ultimately they are what makes America America. Yet in a time where being a proud American was imperative in combatting encroaching Communist ideas, people were hesitant to exercise these rights and act as individuals in fear of persecution. With McCarthy’s anti-communistic rhetoric in the limelight and the growing participation of the blame game that was so rapidly spreading across the nation, people prioritized their safety as they watched more and more citizens go on trial for speaking their minds and beliefs. Senator Smith understands the hypocrisy of the government as they called for patriotism and Americanism while simultaneously pressuring the public into social and ideological conformity, and states that in order for American democracy to retain its power and overall prominence in the world, McCarthy’s anti-communistic threats must be subdued.
Senator Margaret Chase Smith wrote a “Declaration of Conscience,” on June 1, 1950, addressed to the President of the United States as a denunciation of McCarthyism. She criticizes Joseph McCarthy for his attack on “Individual Freedom.” Smith, along with seven other Republic Senators, agree that there was a lack of effective leadership in the United States government. Smith argues that Anti-communism infringes upon Americans’ rights to criticize, hold unpopular beliefs, to protest, and to hold independent thought. The fear of being labeled as a communist or fascist began costing Americans their livelihood and their independence, as they feared for their reputations. Chase argues that exercising these constitutional rights should not “cost one single American his reputation,” “merely because he happens to know someone who hold unpopular beliefs.” Joseph McCarthy’s public accusations of American citizens, whom he believed to be communists, invoked fear throughout the country, threatening the very essence of democracy in America. More importantly, it threated freedom of speech, a crucial right in America’s democracy that every citizen should feel safe exercising. Chase writes, “as an American,” she wants to see the “Nation recapture the strength and unity it once had when we fought the enemy instead of ourselves.” In the statement of the seven Republican Senators, they express their “concern with the growing confusion that threatens the security and stability of our country.” In their fight against Communism, the United States fought an internal battle, turning on one another instead of unifying.
In her speech to the senate, Senator Margaret Chase Smith reminds the other senators that their duty is to uphold the constitution, and she specifically refers to freedom of speech and trial by jury. She then goes on to say that the people who are making character assassinations in the name of americanism are themselves violating the basic principle of americanism; “The right to criticize; The right to hold unpopular beliefs; The right to protest; The right of independent thought.” Although Senator Smith never actually mentions Senator McCarthy’s name, I think much of what she advises in her speech applies directly to him. A lot of what she says has to do with the well being of the Republican Party, and that they shouldn’t have to resort to character assassinations to defeat the democrats. However, when Senator Smith talks about upholding the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and the right to a trial by jury , she is talking more in regard to the threat to American democracy and the freedom of the American people as a whole that just the well-being of the Republican Party. Character assassinations might make the Republican Party look bad and be a detriment to their political success but when it comes American Democracy, the attacks on free-speech and jury by trial are definitely a threat and, “if continued here unchecked, will surely end what we have come to cherish as the American way of life.”