The Role Of Communism In The 50's

Despite how the 50s are painted as an idyllic time in American history, they were also a time when the nation was exploring the fear and exploitation associated with communism. Many people encountered the fear personally due to being forced out of their government jobs, and ideas were freely exchanged about what exactly it meant to be American.
The 1950s are known for the baby boomers and a nationwide shift to the suburbs. Life was placid and relaxed for the majority of families. Most people knew their places and fit into them neatly. Men were often the sole earners for their families, while women stayed home and cared for the children (History.com Staff 2010).
Unfortunately, the 50s weren’t as perfect as some choose to present them. Racism
Senator Joseph McCarthy was a politician, which means he had one goal: to gain power. He joined the Marines during World War II not because he felt the need to protect his country or the victims of the Holocaust, but because he knew that veterans in America are treated with reverence and dignity. After the war, he used his law degree and previous position as circuit court judge to run for the Wisconsin Senate seat. After a campaign involving heavy propaganda and direct attacks to his opponent, McCarthy won the election. Thus began his successful political career (Oh, Joyce and Amanda Latham).
Unfortunately for McCarthy, his first term was bland and unremarkable. If he wanted to be re-elected, he’d have to change something. His advisors suggested that he take on the issue of communism in the United States. McCarthy didn’t know much about how to handle it, so naturally, he latched onto it with a terrifying passion, beginning his reign of infamy as one of the most reckless, petty, and destructive senators in American history (History.com Staff
After a black man was unnecessarily killed by a police officer, Rosenbaum acted as a mediator between local black leaders, furious about the recent murder, and the police force. Rosenbaum fought to have the police officer prosecuted for the crime, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Not long afterwards, he was called into his superintendent's office and asked if he was part of the Communist Party. Rosenbaum said he wasn't, and that was that... until two years later, when Senator McCarthy held hearings in Massachusetts (Rosenbaum's home state) with the goal of exposing communists in the government. Rosenbaum was called to the hearings. He refused to testify, citing the Fifth Amendment, and gave up his job in the process (Grimes 2015).
In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower made the executive decision that all homosexual people were a threat to national security and should be fired immediately. This was because they were supposed to be Russian spies... for some reason. Joan Cassidy was one of these people. She was forced to resign from the Navy job she loved because she'd been outed as a lesbian. In the end, however, she finally married her girlfriend. They were together for thirteen years until Joan's death (James