This paper explores the
communist movement in America as portrayed in Ellen Schrecker's book "The Age of McCarthyism." This
paper details the book's underlying thesis which is that although communism wasn't outlawed, the systematic attacks by local, state and the federal government to chip away at its membership with intent to destroy the
movement seriously damaged the ideals set forth in the first amendment. This paper also contains detailed information and facts pertaining to the McCarthy era and the
communist movement in America.