What earlier even is mccarthyism compared with?

McCarthyism is often compared to the Red Scare of the early 20th century, particularly the First Red Scare following World War I, which involved widespread fear of communism and anarchism. Both periods were characterized by heightened paranoia, government crackdowns, and the persecution of individuals based on real or perceived political beliefs. Additionally, McCarthyism is likened to the Salem witch trials, as both involved the scapegoating of individuals and the erosion of civil liberties in the name of national security and social conformity.