Final answer:
McCarthyism was a period of baseless accusations by Senator McCarthy that lost credibility through public exposures and hearings, culminating in his censure in 1954.
Explanation:
McCarthyism was a dark period in American history marked by Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy's baseless accusations of widespread communism infiltration in the government, leading to fear and witch hunts.
Despite initially gaining fame, McCarthy's lies started losing credibility in the mid-1950s, notably after Edward Murrow's exposé and the Army-McCarthy hearings debunked his claims in public view.
Ultimately, in 1954, McCarthy's unchecked accusations and lack of evidence led to his censure by the Senate, marking the decline of the era of fear and suspicion he propagated.
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