What does the rise of McCarthyism tell us about the relationship between Language and History?

Question

Language can also mean words. definition of McCarthyism

the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, especially of pro-Communist activity, in many instances unsupported by proof or based on slight, doubtful, or irrelevant evidence.

Answer 1

Despite previous years of general inactivity in the US Senate, Joseph McCarthy rose to public attention in 1950 because of ongoing events in Asia, HUAC investigations, and his slew of accusatory speeches. Although no proof was found to back McCarthy's claims, the senator initiated a campaign of fear-mongering through language catering to public dangers. McCarthyism's growth in the face of insufficient evidence demonstrates language's power to stir social activity and create historical events. McCarthy labeled hundreds of innocent government employees "communist" and employed a hefty amount of pathos into his 1950 Wheeling speech, tapping into the public's general fear of Communist forces in Russia and Korea at the time.