Did the Attempt To Halt Communism in the U.S. insight unconstitutional Actions?

This past week I have learned a great deal about the cold war.  Specifically, about how Senator McCarthy played a role in it.  The documents that I have read tell me of how hollywood began to blacklist people who would have had any connection with Communism.  A movie that I watched in class about McCarthy showed how the American people were terribly afraid of being called Communist and that innocent people were losing their jobs and livelyhood over accusations from Senator McCarthy.  I am glad that the Senator was put to a stop, but a little dissapointed in the abilities of the American people who allowed themselves to be bullied so easily.  The things that were happening to people were completely against the constitution.  Communism is a way of government, according to the United States constituion a citizen has every right to believe what they want and even if that be in a failing form of government.  The American people should have stood up much sooner for their personal liberties and rights with the full knowledge that what Senator McCarthy was doing and what industries like Hollywood were doing was completely unconstitutional.  I believe that today this would not happen.  Everyday I turn on the news there seems to be a contraversy about something the president did, something an elected official did, or something that a police officer did that violates the rights of a particular citizen or citizens.  If something like what happened in the 1950's was about to repeat itself, I have much faith that the American people would have enough strength to stand up for themselves and what they know is right according to their constitution under which they live by.  If the constitution that your country lives by is not followed by your country, why are you still living in it?