In Margaret Chase Smith’s “Declaration of Conscience,” she states:

Question

Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism—

The right to criticize.

The right to hold unpopular beliefs.

The right to protest.

The right to independent thought.

What purpose did Senator Smith intend her words to serve in the midst of the Second Red Scare?

(1 point)
Responses

She identifies the hypocrisy of blaming those who criticize the government as being un-American.
She identifies the hypocrisy of blaming those who criticize the government as being un-American.

She condemns those who would criticize the government for identifying and punishing Communists.
She condemns those who would criticize the government for identifying and punishing Communists.

She challenges the Senate to criticize and protest those who “shout the loudest about Americanism."
She challenges the Senate to criticize and protest those who “shout the loudest about Americanism."

She acknowledges that thinking independently and holding unpopular beliefs is unwise in politics.
She acknowledges that thinking independently and holding unpopular beliefs is unwise in politics.

Answer 1

She identifies the hypocrisy of blaming those who criticize the government as being un-American. Senator Smith intended her words to serve as a reminder of the core principles of Americanism, including the right to criticize, hold unpopular beliefs, protest, and think independently. By highlighting this hypocrisy, she challenges those who are using accusations of being un-American to silence dissent and promote their own agenda during the Second Red Scare.