Analyzing Mccarthyism as Depicted in The Political Cartoon

This political cartoon shows the Committee on Un-American Activities driving recklessly through the streets, obviously not bothering to care that they were running over people. Chaos is evident, the face with all papers flying all over, parking meters falling over, and general looks of terror ons of people. This cartoon is trying to show that Joseph McCarthy’s committee was wreaking havoc on the American populace and would not stop for anything. This appears to be true, since it was around this time that McCarthy began to accuse individuals in Hollywood (screenwriters, directors, actors, etc.). He was directly attacking American icons that were known all around the world. Some of the people accused of being a Communist included Charlie Chaplin, Arthur Miller, Langston Hughes, and Orson Welles. This is analogous to the book The Crucible, because in the book when the court started accusing several highly reputable people such as Rebecca Nurse, Martha Corey, and John Proctor for witchcraft and set them to hang. This made many people afraid because these are people that the townsfolk respect and look up to, who were well-liked and had influence in the town. Reverend Parris is worried that if they hang, the townspeople will rebel and overthrow the courts. He has already seen the town turning against him; he found a knife stuck in his door that morning. He is worried that the townspeople will finally be fed up with the hangings and stage a rebellion, which might be dangerous to him.