Senator Joseph McCarthy from Wisconsin was the leader of the 1950's Communist witch-hunt throughout the United States. McCarthy was the most hated senator in America at this time and he knew that he would never become re-elected. So, to make himself more popular, he capitalized on America's fear of Communism and claimed that he had a blacklist of over 200 Americans who had jobs in high positions up in Washington who were affiliated with Communism. This led to many trials of these people and resulted in McCarthyism, or the act of accusing a person of doing something without any real evidence.
Many of the accused had their reputations ruined and in some cases would be blacklisted from being able to get new jobs, as well as being harassed by anti-Communist groups and individuals.
John Burgoyne, poet, playwright and British general, submits an ill-fated plan to the British government to isolate New England from the other colonies on this day in 1777.
