Final answer:
The congressional hearings in the 1950s were set up to investigate communist influence in American society, driven by the political climate and motivations of the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The congressional hearings were set up in the 1950s for several reasons. One major reason was to investigate communist influence in American society. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations conducted numerous hearings to uncover communist activities and root out any potential threats to national security.
Another reason for these hearings was the political climate of the time. The Cold War era heightened fears of communist infiltration and espionage, leading to increased scrutiny and suspicion.
Additionally, these hearings were driven by political motivations. Some politicians, like Senator Joseph McCarthy, used the hearings to gain political advantage and to target individuals they believed to be communists or sympathizers.