What was the purpose of the McCarran Internal Security Act?

The McCarran Internal Security Act, enacted in 1950, aimed to address national security concerns during the Cold War, particularly in relation to communism. Its primary purpose was to establish mechanisms for reviewing the loyalty of government employees, especially those in positions that could pose a risk to national security. This law required organizations with communist affiliations to register with the government, and it also authorized the arrest and detention of individuals deemed dangerous to the security of the United States in emergency situations.

The act reflected the heightened fears of communist infiltration and subversion during this period, aligning with broader themes of loyalty and security that characterized the American political landscape in the early Cold War. Therefore, the focus on reviewing the loyalty of government employees is a direct reflection of the concerns that drove the motivations behind the enactment of the McCarran Internal Security Act.