Introduction
The early 1950s served as a parallel to the Salem witch trials of 1692 (a depiction of which is pictured above). However, this time the search was enacted to unveil undercover communists in America rather than witches. In the midst of the Cold War, the American federal government felt a need for a heightened National Security. Alliances were established with NATO and the National Security Act of 1947 was passed. While the claim was made that higher security would strengthen the U.S. and make it safer, as time passed, these actions interfered with individual constitutional rights. During this age of McCarthyism, lives were destroyed because of an individual's personal political beliefs, and that alone; yet, some important political figures and spies were identified, found guilty, and charged accordingly to their crimes. The American public was led to believe that Communists were lurking about everywhere which caused widespread accusations.
