Joseph R. McCarthy (1908-1957) is best known as a communist-hating senator. At a period McCarthy was one of the most powerful men in Washington. He developed a personal and political view that has been called McCarthyism. It included bullying attacks and accusations, branding anyone who disagreed with him as disloyal, un-American or a communist symphatizer. In 1954 McCarthy accused public figures of being communists and reportet that the Army was trying to keep him from digging out more communists.
In the 1950s, racial segregation in public schools was the norm across America. Oliver Brown who was the father of a black third-grader was tired of seeing his little girl walk such a long way too school. He wanted to challenge segregation in public schools and in 1951, the NAACP, recuested an injuction that would forbid the segregation of Topeka's public schools. Eventually the proposal came through and in 1954 supreme court decided that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional.
Yes, two different events in American history. McCarthy spread fear and brought out the worst in people who told on their neighbors. Not a nice thing to do. The board vs. Brown is an important milestone in American history although it would be a long time from the ruling until the African Americans could attend the school if their choice.
SvarSlettGood and important themes in modern history. This could be done in two posts, though - there isn't a clear link. Some examples of McCarthyism would also be nice, like that C. Chaplin was declared unwanted in the US and the spreading oppression of communists.
SvarSlettThis was very much present in Norway, and a part of our history that most people aren't too proud of today. Jf. Kråkerøytalen, Gerhardsen, H. Lie. This contributed to countries taking sides, rather than staying neutral, during the Cold War (along with NATO etc.)
Thank you for responding to my post, Magnus! I agree that there is not a clear link between the two topics. But the assignment was to write about two topics from 1954 - so I guess that is the link :)
SvarSlett