+
Article
University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania: The Age of Mc Carthyism

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains links to articles which discuss the age of McCarthyism. Covers issues of national security, anti-communism, congressional committees, blacklists, and the legacy of the McCarthy Era.
+
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Communist Party Usa

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia offers a comprehensive encyclopedia entry on the Communist Party USA. Content includes a focus on this party's formation and history, its ideology, relations with other groups, leaders of the party, current activities, and much...
+
Website
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: Mc Carthyism, Korea and the Cold War

For Students 9th - 10th
This article looks at McCarthyism in the context of the Korean War and the Cold War. It is supplemented by original documents and articles from that era.
+
Website
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Anti Communism in the 1950s

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An essay tracing the anti-Communist hysteria beginning in earnest at the end of World War II that resulted in Truman's federal Loyalty Security program and ending with McCarthyism in the 1950s.
+
Lesson Plan
University of North Carolina

Nc Civic Education Consortium: Joe Mc Carthy and the Red Scare

For Teachers 11th
This very detailed lesson plan incorporates small group activities, whole group activities, projects, debate ideas, and primary sources all related to Joseph McCarthy. Extensive background material is provided along with a bibliography...
+
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: American Literature: The Crucible: Research Assignment

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson focuses on a pre-reading research assigment providing background for The Crucible by Arthur Miller. It features a list of topics and questions under each topic. It results in a presentation using Glogster, Prezi, or PowerPoint.
+
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: American Literature: The Crucible

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the introduction to an American Literature unit on The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Miller wrote the play about the witch hunt in the 1690s in Salem, Massachusetts as an allegory protesting against McCarthyism, a similiar problem...
+
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Post War Prosperity and Cold War Fears 1945 1960: The Cold War

For Students 11th - 12th
Examines the causes of the Cold War, America's efforts to oppose the spread of Communism, and the hunt for Communist sympathizers within the United States.
+
Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Harry S. Truman: Domestic Affairs

For Students 9th - 10th
A broad look at the Truman presidency domestically including the labor problems he encountered, his Fair Deal, the instransigence of the Republican Party, and McCarthyism.
+
Unit Plan
Read Works

Read Works: Internal Security Act of 1950

For Teachers 11th - 12th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This ReadWorks passage provides a brief history of the International Security Act of 1950. A paired passage, a passage with related content, and a questions sheet are available to help students build...
+
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: The Modern Era

For Students 3rd - 8th
For a brief overview of the period after World War II until the present, visit this Library of Congress resource. Learn about the Cold War and the first man to walk on the moon.
+
Primary
Curated OER

History Matters: "National Suicide"

For Students 9th - 10th
Joseph McCarthy's initial attacks against the State Department and his all-out hunt for Communists in hiding in the government was met by Senator Margaret Chase Smith's Declaration of Conscience advocating for the protection of...
+
Handout
Digital History

Digital History: Trail Gunner Joe

For Students 9th - 10th
A charismatic demagogue, Joe McCarthy grew up on a Wisconsin farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse. While still a teenager, he established a thriving business as a chicken farmer. He dropped out of school after eighth grade, but...
+
Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 8: An Age of Confidence and Anxiety

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive learning module examines the United States' response to the global uncertainty and instability that followed World War II and the ways that marginalized groups challenged discrimination, and the counter-responses to their...
+
Unit Plan
Thinkport Education

Thinkport: Write Now: Case Study: Mc Carthyism and the Cold War

For Students 9th - 10th
Students are tasked with researching and writing an informative article about McCarthy and the Cold War. The overarching concept is focused around how one person was able to influence the political and social arena during the time of the...
+
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Strange Case of Alger Hiss [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is from a unit that covers the period from the Second World War up to the Cold War. It looks at the case of Alger Hiss who was accused in 1948 of belonging to the Communist Party, imprisoned, and who denied the association his...
+
Handout
Mount Holyoke College

Mount Holyoke College: Mc Carthy's Downfall

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of a larger site about Joseph McCarthy and McCarthyism, this page relates his ultimate downfall brought about by his bullying style and false accusations.
+
Article
University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania: The Politics of Scholarship

For Students 9th - 10th
This article contrasts the political versus the cultural anti-communist actions of the McCarthy Era.
+
Handout
University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania: Senator Joe Mc Carthy

For Students 9th - 10th
An excerpt from a book on Senator Joseph McCarthy. Includes a description of his life and career and details the impact his actions and ideas had on America in the 1950's.
+
Website
University of Pennsylvania

Univ. Of Penn: Hysteria and Ideology in "The Crucible"

For Students 9th - 10th
This website, which is provided for by the University of Pennsylvania, reproduces an article by Richard Hayes from "Commonweal" in 1953. A good opportunity to see a review of "The Crucible" from the time the play originally appeared.
+
Website
Other

Amistad Digital Resource: Mc Carthyism

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed account of the anti-communist campaign conducted by the House of Un-American Activities and Joseph McCarthy during the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare. The primary targets of such suspicions were...
+
Website
Other

Behind the Scenes: The Mc Carran Internal Security Act

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the origins and impact of the McCarran Internal Security Act which President Harry Truman called "the greatest danger to freedom of speech, press and assembly, since the Alien and Sedition Laws of 1798." Find out how a fear of...
+
Website
Other

Appleton Public Library: Joseph Mc Carthy

For Students 9th - 10th
Information on the life and work of Joseph McCarthy (1908-1957).
+
Website
New York Times

New York Times: On This Day: Harry S. Truman: Decisive President

For Students 9th - 10th
A New York Times obituary of Harry S. Truman, which outlines his life as a Senator, Vice-President, and President. Read about his domestic and foreign policy decisions.