The term named after Senator who in the early 1950s used his position in Congress to baselessly accuse high-ranking government officials and hundreds of other Americans of conspiracy with communism _______________. (one word)

McCarthy was elected senator in 1946. In the early 1950s he started accusing people of being communits. These accusations led to a paranoia in the USA thinking that a communist infiltration was taking place. McCarthy lead a series of hearings in which he carry through his accusations. People were accused without evidence and they lost everything: their jobs, families and reputation.

"McCarthyism" is another way of saying "Defamation", that is false accusations against different individuals without solid evidence.

The play "The Crucible" represents how accusing people of "witchcraft" ended in tragedy and loss for people who were honest. Arthur Miller wrote the play as a way of critizicing "McCarthyism".