Why did mccarthyism succeed at first?
mccarthyism fed on the public's fears of foreign influence in the united states.
mccarthy gave the impression that he was purging the nation of a very dangerous, and seemingly very real, communist menace.
the republican party encouraged mccarthy's attacks because they believed that the attacks would them to win the 1952 presidential election.
all of the above

The correct answer for the question that is being presented above is this one: "all of the above." McCarthyism succeed at first: McCarthyism fed on the public's fears of foreign influence in the United States; McCarthy gave the impression that he was purging the nation of a very dangerous, and seemingly very real, Communist menace; The Republican Party encouraged McCarthy's attacks because they believed that the attacks would help them to win the 1952 Presidential election.