"The reason why we find ourselves in a position of impotency is not because our only powerful potential enemy has sent men to invade our shores, but rather because of the traitorous actions of those who have been treated so well by this Nation... I have here in my hand a list of 205 names known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party." — Senator Joseph McCarthy, Wheeling, West Virginia, February 9, 1950
Which contextual factor best explains the public receptivity to McCarthy's claims in February 1950?
- A
The Cuban Missile Crisis had brought the U.S. to the brink of war
- B
The launch of Sputnik suggested Soviet technological superiority
- Ccheck_circle
The recent Soviet atomic test and communist victory in China heightened fears of espionage
- D
The Korean War had begun and U.S. troops were retreating
Explanation
The USSR's August 1949 atomic test and Mao's October 1949 victory created intense anxiety about communist gains. The Korean War began in June 1950, Sputnik in 1957, and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962—all later than the Wheeling speech.