in your own words, what was mccarthyism?

McCarthyism was a political practice in the early 1950s in the United States, mainly associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy. It involved making public accusations of disloyalty and subversion, especially alleging that numerous communists had infiltrated the U.S. government and other institutions without sufficient evidence. The practice used aggressive and often unfair investigative methods, leading to widespread fear, repression, and the persecution of innocent people. McCarthyism resulted in people losing jobs and reputations based on unproven charges, creating a climate of fear and limiting civil liberties during the Cold War era. The term today is often used to describe baseless accusations and political witch hunts meant to silence dissent.