Final answer:
The main reasons for McCarthyism were not solely the Cold War, as other factors also played a role in the 'red scare'. These include the end of the Korean War and Joseph Stalin's death, growing fatigue with McCarthy's wild accusations, and the efforts of many to root out communism in society.
Step-by-step explanation:
McCarthyism was not the main reason for McCarthyism. Other occurrences had happened without the aid of the Cold War to bring on a 'red scare'.
Firstly, the end of the Korean War and the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953 reduced the weight of McCarthy's accusations. Additionally, more and more Americans were growing tired of McCarthy's wild accusations that were not backed by any credible evidence. McCarthy's supporters even advised him to shift his accusations to more subjective ones about the government's softness on Communism, but he continued to make exaggerated or faulty claims.
Furthermore, McCarthy was not the only one who contributed to the effort of rooting out communism in American society. By 1953, it was illegal in 39 states to advocate violence in support of communism. This shows that McCarthyism was not solely caused by the Cold War.