Question

Primary Source: McCarthy's Telegram to Truman​ What can you infer from the primary source about the purpose of this piece of literature? How did the author intend his work to be taken and used? Was he trying to be controversial or calming? How does it all influence the meaning of the piece?

Answer 1

The primary source, McCarthy's Telegram to Truman, is likely intended by the author to critique the tactics of McCarthyism by drawing parallels with the Salem Witch Trials, thus inviting readers to analyze and question such actions in the light of ethical standards and historical precedent.

Step-by-step explanation:

When analyzing a primary source such as McCarthy's Telegram to Truman, we must consider the author's purpose, the context of the document, and the potential biases present. The atmosphere of prosperity during the 1950s was overshadowed by security concerns and internal unrest. Senator Joseph McCarthy's approach to rooting out communism became notorious, leading to a climate where few dared to oppose him. A primary source like this telegram can reveal the author's original intent, which in the context of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, is likely to have been a direct commentary on the prevailing atmosphere of fear and the dangerous consequences of witch-hunt-like procedures used by figures such as McCarthy.

The author's purpose here can be inferred to critique and draw parallels between the hysteria of the McCarthy era and the Salem Witch Trials, thereby encouraging the audience to question the ethics and logic of McCarthy's tactics. Given this historical context, it is essential to discern whether the source is based on facts, opinions, or propagandistic intentions, and to understand the author's biases, if any are present. The impact that such a source has on its contemporaries can be profound, potentially inciting controversy or calming fears by shedding light on the issues of its time.

Answer 2

Answer and Explanation:

1. The purpose of this source is to show an account of how Senator McCarthy, even without evidence, provoked an aversion to communism and a persecution of all those who sympathized with communism and the Soviet Union. This was the beginning of the moment known as the "red panic" and the policy known as McCarthismo.

2. The author wanted the telegram to be used as a fuel for his campaign for re-election to the American Senate, he needed a very controversial subject and of interest to the public. In addition, he needed to position himself as someone who was struggling to free American society from threats.

3. The author was trying to be polemic, showing a group of American government officials working for the Soviet Union and Communism. With that he stated that the American government was being spied on within the government itself and that there were traitorous Americans.

4. All this gives this piece a high historical and political value, as it shows how the pillars of the cold war were formed, as well as showing how political propaganda is influential in society.