The Modern Scholar

American Inquisition: The Era of McCarthyism

By: Professor Ellen Schrecker

Narrated by: Ellen Schrecker

During the early years of the Cold War, the anti-communist witch hunt that we now call McCarthyism swept through American society. As we will discover, McCarthyism was much more than the career of the blustering senator from Wisconsin who gave it a name. It was the most widespread and longest-lasting episode of political repression in American history. Dozens of men and women went to prison, thousands lost their jobs, and untold numbers of others saw what happened to those people and refrained from expressing controversial or unpopular ideas.

McCarthyism remains all too relevant today; if nothing else, it reminds us that we cannot take our basic freedoms for granted. This audio course aims to provide a basic understanding of what happened during the Cold War red scare of the late 1940s and 1950s. It will look at this red scare from the perspective of both the victims and the perpetrators, and will try to answer the following question: How could such a politically repressive movement arise in a modern democratic society such as the post-World War II United States?

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2003 Ellen Schrecker (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC

A great history

Would you listen to The Modern Scholar again? Why?

Yes. I plan to listen to the lecture series again, this time with the study guide open in front of me and while taking notes. This is a very important topic very relevant to current day society, the repression of free speech and other freedoms, surveillance and the oppression of the Occupy Movement.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the details of a topic I already had some exposure too.

Which character – as performed by Ellen Schrecker – was your favorite?

N/A

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No it is a bit too deep. I did have to go back in parts to relisten and catch details I missed.

Any additional comments?

The PDF study guide is great. I am looking forward to tracking down some of the additional resources and taking the "final exam" available online.
I am having trouble finding the web site referenced to take the "Final Exam."

A real disapointment :-((

A boring lecture on a potentially interesting subject..