This programme, presented by historian and teacher Ben Walsh, tells the story of 1950s America, gripped by a paranoid fear of communism, turning against itself.
Using footage from the North American Records Administration, the McCarthy Trials are documented, looking at Senator McCarthy's tactics in naming and punishing alleged communist activists and supporters.
This programme is a valuable resource not only for teaching about 1950s America, but also for teaching how to use and learn from archive film. Who shot the footage and why? What is not shown?
Useful websites
The National Archives Learning Curves: How to Use
A excellent guide to using archive of all kinds in the classroom, including links to themed exhibitions containing original documents, video, pictures and posters
