The Constitution was written for the purpose of protecting the general rights of all Americans as well as establishing guidelines to limit government control. During the 1950s, Senator Joseph McCarthy sparked a nationwide phenomenon that led the government to violate many of Americans' rights. As McCarthy addressed the Wheeling Women's Republican Club in Wheeling, West Virginia, in February 1950, although I cannot take the time to name all the men in the State Department who have been designated as members of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring I have here in my hand a list of 205 people known to the Secretary of State to be members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless still work and shape the policy of the State Department. (Kallen 20) With this irrational statement, the senator amplified the Red Scare to uncontrollable levels. Joseph McCarthy did not spark fear of communism; he only used it to his advantage. With the onset of the Cold War, McCarthy used the best tool he could find to gain political power: widespread fear. His statements sparked a witch trial against more than 2,000 suspected communist spies holding many high positions in American society, causing the tearing apart of American families and society, the violation of constitutional rights, and an irrational fear of communism (Kallen 20). throughout the country had to try the accused. Congressional panels across the United States have asked the question: "Are you currently, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?" (McCarthyism). Without just cause, the U.S. government has taken thousands of people to court for crimes they did not commit. Being accused of being a communist was one of the worst fates one could endure. The accused was... middle of paper ... Americans were paranoid about the Communist takeover, and when McCarthyism collapsed, it made those Americans paranoid about of their own government. This increased the tension during these very troubled years in world history. Works Cited Herman, Arthur. "Herman sheds new light on McCarthy." Interview with Stephen Goode. News Overview February 7, 2000: 36. EBSCOhost. Internet. May 15, 2014. Kallen, Stuart A. The 1950s. San Diego, CA: Lucent, 1999. Print. “Joseph R. McCarthy.” History.com. A+E Networks, and Web. May 12, 2014. “McCarthyism.” History of the United States. Independence Hall Association of Philadelphia, nd Web. May 12, 2014. .Schrecker, Ellen W. “Archival Sources for the Study of McCarthyism.” Journal of American History 75.1 (1998): 197-208. EBSCO host. Internet. May 12 2014.