What communist gains around the world created fear that set stage for excesses of McCarthyism?

The rise of communism in Eastern Europe and China and the Korean War created fear in the United States that communism was spreading throughout the world and posed a threat to American security. This fear led to the excesses of McCarthyism, a period of political repression in which suspected communists were blacklisted and persecuted.

Here are some specific communist gains that contributed to the fear in the United States:

* The Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. This demonstrated the power of communism and its ability to spread.

* The communist takeover of China in 1949. This gave communism a major foothold in Asia.

* The Korean War. The United States and South Korea fought against North Korea and China in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. The war ended in a stalemate, but it further raised fears of communist aggression.

These communist gains created a climate of fear and suspicion in the United States. Many Americans believed that communists were infiltrating the government, the media, and other institutions. This led to the rise of McCarthyism, which was characterized by the blacklisting and persecution of suspected communists.

McCarthyism was a dark period in American history. It violated the civil liberties of many innocent people and created an atmosphere of fear and suspicion. The excesses of McCarthyism eventually came to an end, but the fear that communism posed to American security continued for many years.