What does the term \"mccarthyism\" mean? .

A vociferous campaign against alleged communists in the US government and other institutions carried out under Senator Joseph McCarthy in the period 1950–54. Many of the accused were blacklisted or lost their jobs, although most did not in fact belong to the Communist Party.

a campaign or practice that endorses the use of unfair allegations and investigations.

"he practiced McCarthyism long before there was a McCarthy"

South carolina was so angry about the election of lincoln that they seceded from the union on december 20, 1860. they attacked fort sumter later, on april 12, 1861.