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He was noted for claiming that there were large numbers of [[Communist Party|Communists]] and [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] spies and sympathizers, engaged in a conspiracy to undermine the United States, inside the federal government. He was proven correct by government documents and inquiry, including decrypted [[Venona]] files.  

He was noted for claiming that there were large numbers of [[Communist Party|Communists]] and [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] spies and sympathizers, engaged in a conspiracy to undermine the United States, inside the federal government. He was proven correct by government documents and inquiry, including decrypted [[Venona]] files.  

   

   

McCarthy lost support in 1953 when he started attacking the U.S. Army and suggesting that Republican President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] was protecting subversives.  Eisenhower signaled Republicans to stop his attacks on the Army.  Although McCarthy had strong support among Catholics, such as [[Joe Kennedy]], in 1954 the Senate censured him on charges of attacking fellow Senators; this caused his influence to collapse abruptly.

McCarthy lost support in 1953 when he started attacking the U.S. Army and suggesting that Republican President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] was protecting subversives.  Eisenhower signaled Republicans to stop his attacks on the Army.  Although McCarthy had strong support among Catholics, such as [[Joe Kennedy]], the Senate in 1954 censured him on charges of attacking fellow Senators; this caused his influence to collapse abruptly.

The term "[[McCarthyism]]" was coined in 1950 in reference to McCarthy's aggressive attempts to ferret out suspects in a political context.

The term "[[McCarthyism]]" was coined in 1950 in reference to McCarthy's aggressive attempts to ferret out suspects in a political context.

==Early life==

==Early life==

Joseph McCarthy was born to a poor Irish Catholic farm family in Appleton, Wisconsin.  A hyperactive, extroverted youth, he dropped out of school after eighth grade to start his own poultry business. After the chickens all died, he enrolled in the local public high school.  Thanks to enormous energy and a retentive mind, he finished his coursework in less than a year at age 20.  After two undergraduate years at [[Marquette University]], a leading [[Jesuit]] school in [[Milwaukee]], McCarthy entered Marquette Law School, acquiring the rudiments of the profession that he soon used to knit together a statewide network among Irish and German Catholics.   McCarthy was a practicing Catholic his entire life, but rarely referred to religion or ethnicity in his speeches.  He actively supported President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in the Young Democrats, but did not join Irish organizations.

Joseph McCarthy was born to a poor Irish Catholic farm family in Appleton, Wisconsin.  A hyperactive, extroverted youth, he dropped out of school after eighth grade to start his own poultry business. After the chickens all died, he enrolled in the local public high school.  Thanks to enormous energy and a retentive mind, he finished his coursework in less than a year at age 20.  After two undergraduate years at [[Marquette University]], a leading [[Jesuit]] school in [[Milwaukee]], McCarthy entered Marquette Law School, acquiring the rudiments of the profession that he soon used to knit together a statewide network among Irish and German Catholics. McCarthy was a practicing Catholic his entire life, but rarely referred to religion or ethnicity in his speeches.  He actively supported President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in the Young Democrats, but did not join Irish organizations.

Although defeated in his 1936 race for district attorney, McCarthy displayed remarkable campaign abilities and an astonishing memory for faces.  He had the energy and determination to meet every voter in person, exuding charm and a concern for the voter as an individual.  The same tactics paid off in 1939, when he was successful in a nonpartisan contest for a regional judgeship.   

Although defeated in his 1936 race for district attorney, McCarthy displayed remarkable campaign abilities and an astonishing memory for faces.  He had the energy and determination to meet every voter in person, exuding charm and a concern for the voter as an individual.  The same tactics paid off in 1939, when he was successful in a nonpartisan contest for a regional judgeship.