How did the Cold War further the career of Senator Joseph McCarthy? How did his career end?

Following the end of World War II, the Soviet Union seized all of the territory it had occupied, turning every nation bordering Russia into a satellite state under Moscow's control.

Then, with the democratic government overthrown in 1949, the communist party in China came to power, marking the start of what became known as "the red scare."

In addition, Russia started the "arms race" by developing nuclear weapons; the United States was taken aback when Russia detonated its first hydrogen bomb, and it continued to develop larger and larger nuclear bombs thereafter.

McCarthy interpreted reports that some Americans had joined the communist party during those years as evidence that they supported overthrowing the government and that they were receiving orders from Moscow to carry out subversive activities.

McCarthy put together a "Committee on Un-American Activities" to look into the communist sympathies of both people they suspected and those who were aware of them.

McCarthy exploited the anxieties of the American people to further his own authority by turning fear against the general populace. To stand up for someone accused meant to betray one's own freedom and become a sympathizer.

The army sent a lawyer named Joseph N. Welch to the hearings in response to McCarthy's accusations that the army was tolerant of communism. Welch said to McCarthy, "Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness." McCarthy was then shocked into silence as Welch questioned, "Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?"

McCarthy's downfall was precipitated by Welch's challenge; his committee was dissolved and he was not re-elected in 1956.

The Cold War significantly boosted the career of Senator Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy capitalized on the fear and paranoia surrounding communism during this period to launch his infamous anti-communist campaign. He gained national attention in 1950 when he claimed to possess a list of names of supposed communists working within the U.S. government. This sensational accusation sparked widespread concern and led to investigations into alleged communist infiltration, which McCarthy spearheaded through the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. McCarthy's relentless pursuit of suspected communists, often through aggressive and unsubstantiated accusations, earned him the nickname "Tailgunner Joe" and made him a prominent figure in American politics during the Cold War era.

However, McCarthy's career eventually ended in disgrace. As his investigations continued, McCarthy's tactics came under increasing scrutiny, and he faced growing criticism for his disregard for due process and civil liberties. The turning point came in 1954 when McCarthy conducted televised hearings to investigate alleged communist infiltration in the U.S. Army. During these hearings, McCarthy's bullying tactics and lack of evidence were exposed to a national audience, leading to a loss of public support. Additionally, McCarthy's clashes with the Army's legal counsel, Joseph Welch, famously culminated in Welch's rebuke: "Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" This dramatic moment marked the beginning of McCarthy's downfall.

Following the Army-McCarthy hearings, public opinion turned decisively against McCarthy, and his political influence waned rapidly. In December 1954, the Senate voted to censure McCarthy for conduct unbecoming of a senator, effectively ending his career as a leading figure in American politics. McCarthy's fall from grace serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of political opportunism, demagoguery, and the abuse of power, particularly during times of heightened fear and uncertainty like the Cold War.