During the Cold War, people were afraid of communists, both outside and inside the United States. The Red Scare and McCarthyism that grew out of these fears was damaging to the American way of life. During the McCarthy years, many of the freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights were limited.
Write a paragraph explaining what lessons can be learned from the McCarthy era about what U.S. citizens need to protect in order to preserve the democratic political system and American way of life.

I know that Americans were afraid of being controlled I am just not understanding anything else..

Question

During the Cold War, people were afraid of communists, both outside and inside the United States. The Red Scare and McCarthyism that grew out of these fears was damaging to the American way of life. During the McCarthy years, many of the freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights were limited. 
Write a paragraph explaining what lessons can be learned from the McCarthy era about what U.S. citizens need to protect in order to preserve the democratic political system and American way of life.  

I know that Americans were afraid of being controlled I am just not understanding anything else..

isry98 · Answer

They were also incredibly afraid of dying during a nuclear bombing. Hence all of the bomb shelters built during this time and the agreement the US and Soviet Union signed called MAD or Mutually Assured Destruction.  Which said that the US would bomb Russia if Russia bombed the US and vice versa.

anonymous · Answer

but what lessons can be learned from the mccarthy era? im stuck on this

isry98 · Answer

Well, what did Mccarthy do that was unethical?

anonymous · Answer

well ..  he accused people of sheltering communists?

isry98 · Answer

Exactly and he didn't just accuse people of that he accused people of being straight up Communist.

isry98 · Answer

He launched a psychological war on Communism in America by ironically using something the Soviets used... propaganda the lessons we can learn from this era are the dangers of propaganda and accusing others with no evidence.

anonymous · Answer

can you provide an example of danger of propaganda? i get the accusing part- thanks :) i will medal

isry98 · Answer

People in government were accused of being Communist with no evidence other than the fears of the people accusing them... This is why propaganda is so dangerous because you use people's emotions to fuel your campaign... Commercials do this all the time

anonymous · Answer

So like the smoking cigerettes commercials?

isry98 · Answer

Yeah it preys on peoples fears of dying or harming themselves do to cigarettes are you talking about the "Real Cost" ad campaign?
If so they are using graphic and gross images to dissuade people from using cigarettes because of how grotesque the images are.

isry98 · Answer

hopefully that helps

anonymous · Answer

yeah those commercials and thank you so much it helped a lot

isry98 · Answer

no problem
good luck on your essay