The definition of Mccarthyism is as follows, McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. It also means "The practice of making unfair allegations or using unfair investigative techniques, especially in order to restrict dissent or political criticism (This was taken from Wikipedia). It originated from the Second Red Scare which was when there was a mass fear of communism taking over America and Republican U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin was the heightened figure in the pursuit of anti-communism in America. It was though that media played a big part in communism and many entertainers were accused of communism or sympathising with communists which was just as bad! People who were government employees, educators and union activists were all accused! People such as Albert Einstein, Arthur Miller and Leonard Bernstein were accused! America had a very big problem with communism especially in Russia but it was muted in WW2! Straight after the end of the war Russia put up communist puppet régimes across Europe and America retaliated by providing support for Grecce, Turkey and China who had anti communist forces! This then led to the Cold War! Mccarthyism could easily grow in such political conditions and did so with the prosecution of so many so called 'communists'.