Question

What does the term \"McCarthyism\" mean?.

Answer 1

The term McCarthyism refers to the practice of making public accusations of subversion or treason, usually of being a Communist, without proper evidence.

The term originated in the United States in the 1950s when the American politician Joseph McCarthy, who was a U.S. Senator at the time, accused many Americans of being infiltrated Communists, even though there weren't unsubstantiated charges, and which resulted in a series of investigations and hearing in an effort to expose them. The accusations and investigations were in America's spotlight for a while.

Answer 2

A vociferous campaign against alleged communists in the US government and other institutions carried out under Senator Joseph McCarthy in the period 1950–54. Many of the accused were blacklisted or lost their jobs, although most did not in fact belong to the Communist Party.

a campaign or practice that endorses the use of unfair allegations and investigations.

"he practiced McCarthyism long before there was a McCarthy"