CIVIL RIGHTS

JOSEPH MCCARTHY AND MCCARTHYISM QUESTIONS

1.Who was Joseph McCarthy?

Joseph McCarthy was an American politician, and served as an U.S. Republican Senator
from Wisconsin from 1947 until 1957.

2. What were his politics?

His politics were based on McCarthyism that was an anti-communist crusade, named like 
this because of McCarthy, who used brutal interrogation methods and accused a lot of people
of being communist agents or carrying out un-American activities.

3.What were the first accusations he made?

The firsts accusations he made, or at least one of the first ones, was in 1950 when he gave
a speech during he showed the audience a piece of paper with a list of the names of 205 
suppose active communists working in the State Department.

4.Why do you think the American public believed him?

I think that American public believed him because they were afraid of communist infiltration 
in their society and because he used controversial techniques that made people believe him.

5.What other people did he go on to accuse? What were foundations for his 
accusations?

McCarthy accused government employees, trade union activists and people in the 
entertainment industry like Hollywood actors and directors. He also accused officers from 
the U.S. Army for being communist agents. All his accusations were made with very poor 
evidences.

6.How and why did the reaction of the American public change?
The reaction of the American public changed when his brutal interrogation methos were
revealed in 1954. The support for McCarthy quickly dimished and he was censured by the Senate
for having abused his power as a senator.

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, LETTER TO J. F. KENNEDY

Mr. President Kennedy:

We have a controversial problem with the USSR and the possibility of a confrontation that could drive our country to an imminent nuclear war, and many and differents options to solve it, each one with its possible consequences.

As I am your defense advisor I am  going to introduce you the complicate situation in which we are. I have a confident and reliable source of information that claim that the USSR are building nuclear missile sites on Cuba, a communist country very near to our nation. This could be very dangerous amenazzy to us, because from there to the United States, a nuclear missile can reach and kill thousands of people here in just more less ten minutes. We have to intercede immediately because their ships are on the way to Cuba carrying the nuclear missiles. These are my following recommendations; I wish you take the best option and overcome this difficult situation.

The first thing we must have in account is the security of our cityzens. We could strike first, because we have enough arms, and specially for these case, missile and nuclear power. But that would mean the ending of our resources to in that moment defende us, and the beginning of a possible nuclear war; so I do not think that one is the best opcion.

Another option could be to invade Cuba and destroy the missile sites one by one; nevertheless Cubans would intercept you before our army could do anything, and as the previous option, I do not think it is a good idea.

The best opcion I think it would be to round with our ships Cuba, to block the missiles, and make as this way  time waiting to have the option of a negotiation. If we do that, there could be a period of tension within the negotiation but I think it is the only option to prevent a nuclear war and the dead of civils, and have the chance of getting into an agreement.

As a conclusion, I would recommend you to set in motion the last option immediately.

Your defence advisor: Gala Mayado

Members of the group: Elena Fernández, Gala Mayado, Andrea Rapado and Aitana Rodriguez.