Joseph A. Corsetti
Student Learning Objectives:
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1. Students will analyze primary source documents and write two hypotheses about the historic events they are studying.
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2. Students will prepare a speech arguing either for or against the indictment of Joseph McCarthy.
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3. Students will write and indictment of McCarthy on criminal charges of engaging in un-American Activities.
Introduction:
Students will explore McCarthyism and the impact this movement had on the United States. To accomplish this goal, and to analyze primary source documents, the students will conduct a pretrial hearing to determine if Senator McCarthy and his cohorts should be held liable for slander, libel, and other un-American activities. The defense will argue that given the present climate throughout the world and the grave danger facing the United States in the form of communism, Senator McCarthy and his cohorts acted in accordance with law, and were justified in using the methods that they employed.
Learning Activity:
Students will be given a handout explaining the activity and the instructions. Students will then be split into two groups, a prosecution and a defense, and asked to prepare a speech of about five minutes arguing their case before the judge. To help students prepare for their speech, the group will receive an evidence packet containing the group's primary source documents. Remind students that if time permits, rebuttal arguments will be heard. Only one student will present the groups speech before the judge. However, each student is required to complete an evidence evaluation form. This handout asks students to summarize and explain the important factors in each of the primary source documents. For each document, the student should be asked to choose an important quote form the document and explain the importance of that quote.
Document List:
The following is a suggested list of documents. They can all be found using the Internet. Excerpting the documents is suggested so that each of them can be utilized.
Prosecution:
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1. Eleanor Roosevelt -- excerpt from "Freedom and Human Rights"
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2. John Howard Larson -- excerpt from his "Statement to the House Un-American Activities Committee"
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3. Harry Truman's -- excerpt of veto message of the McCarran Act of 1959
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4. New York Times Article -- February 14, 1954
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5. Testimony from the "McCarthy -- Army Hearings"
Defense:
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1. Eleanor Roosevelt -- excerpt from "Freedom and Human Rights"
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2. "McCarran Act of 1950"
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3. Senator Joseph McCarthy "Speech at Wheeling, West Virginia"
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4. "Senator McCarthy explains the communist threat"
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5. The Smith Act -- Title 1
Independent Practice:
Students will respond to the following question: In times of perceived fear, why are we as citizens willing to give up our freedoms and civil liberties? Write one page. Be sure to use specific details to support your ideas.