Question

which of the following is the best evidence that cold war fears affected American civil liberties during the 1950's

Answer 1

The McCarthy Senate hearings (;

Answer 2

The correct answer is D) The McCarthy Senate hearing.

The 1950's in America brought on the beginning of the Second Red Scare. This fear of communism infiltrating American society caused members of the federal government to take drastic action. A perfect example of this would be the House Un-American Activities Commitee.

This committee, led by individuals like Congressman Joe McCarthy, forced individuals to come before the Senate to discuss their links to the Soviet Union or communist party. Many of these individuals called were not charged with a legitimate crime nor was their evidence to indicate  that they were guilty of doing anything wrong. This was a huge infringement on the rights of citizens, as they were forced to answer questions and be put on trial without their proper due process rights.