First Amendment In American Literature
“If the First Amendment means anything, it means that a state has no business telling a man, sitting alone in his house, what books he may read or what films he may watch.” Thurgood Marshall
MCCARTHYISM, THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND AMERICAN LITERATURE: ARTHUR MILLER - A CASE STUDY
INTRODUCTION
Over time we have watched the method of literary expression evolve from a traditional manner using predictable formats and ideas to a more modern and creative flow of opinions, morals and feelings. Through this transition and growth in the literary movement, nothing has become more important than the beliefs and fundamental concepts embraced by the rights and protections provided by the First Amendment. Not only has this amendment allowed for thoughts …show more content…
The beginning of concerns over the spread of communism started around World War I, but it turned to panic when Alger Hiss, who was a high-ranking State Department official was convicted of espionage in 1947 under the democratic presidency of Harry Truman ("McCarthyism"). This fear was even further exacerbated with news that the Soviet Union had exploded its first A-bomb in 1949 and the world’s most populated nation, China, declared it had become communist ("McCarthyism"). It was at this time that a Wisconsin Senator by the name of Joseph McCarthy came to be known nationally for declaring that he was aware of a significant number of communist party members who worked in the United States Department of State. His claims initiated investigations into determining if any public official, high rank armed forces officers and even decorated war heroes were actually communist spies. His rampage continued on through 1954 when he made the fatal mistake of televising the hearings. The public could now see and hear how ruthless and vengeful his campaign against communism had become and turned against him. Soon thereafter other members of the Senate censured him and the investigations were abruptly halted ("McCarthyism").
Although McCarthyism does not appear to have impacted the literary world and entertainment as a whole during this time period, it provided inspiration for another agency to begin questioning those in the creative arts field and their possible ties to
MCCARTHYISM, THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND AMERICAN LITERATURE: ARTHUR MILLER - A CASE STUDY
INTRODUCTION
Over time we have watched the method of literary expression evolve from a traditional manner using predictable formats and ideas to a more modern and creative flow of opinions, morals and feelings. Through this transition and growth in the literary movement, nothing has become more important than the beliefs and fundamental concepts embraced by the rights and protections provided by the First Amendment. Not only has this amendment allowed for thoughts …show more content…
The beginning of concerns over the spread of communism started around World War I, but it turned to panic when Alger Hiss, who was a high-ranking State Department official was convicted of espionage in 1947 under the democratic presidency of Harry Truman ("McCarthyism"). This fear was even further exacerbated with news that the Soviet Union had exploded its first A-bomb in 1949 and the world’s most populated nation, China, declared it had become communist ("McCarthyism"). It was at this time that a Wisconsin Senator by the name of Joseph McCarthy came to be known nationally for declaring that he was aware of a significant number of communist party members who worked in the United States Department of State. His claims initiated investigations into determining if any public official, high rank armed forces officers and even decorated war heroes were actually communist spies. His rampage continued on through 1954 when he made the fatal mistake of televising the hearings. The public could now see and hear how ruthless and vengeful his campaign against communism had become and turned against him. Soon thereafter other members of the Senate censured him and the investigations were abruptly halted ("McCarthyism").
Although McCarthyism does not appear to have impacted the literary world and entertainment as a whole during this time period, it provided inspiration for another agency to begin questioning those in the creative arts field and their possible ties to