When Did The Phrase “Conspiracy Theory” First Appear?

The term “conspiracy theory” was first used by the Central Intelligence Agency in 1967 to discredit those who questioned the official version of John F. Kennedy’s assassination and doubted that his killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, was responsible. The term has been popularized in newspapers since the 1870s, particularly after the assassination of President Garfield in July 1881. Conspiracy theories have played significant roles in conflicts from the Indian wars of the 17th century to the labor battles of the Gilded Age, from the American Revolution to the present day.

The term “conspiracy theory” emerged much more recently than its origins, with its origins tracing back to philosopher Karl Popper in the 1950s. However, the term has had a bad reputation since it was first popularized by philosopher Sir Karl Popper in the 1950s. Politicians use it to mock and dismiss allegations against them, while philosophers and historians have used it to justify their beliefs.

Academic research into conspiracy theories has only emerged in the 1930s, with Karl Raimund Popper being the philosopher who put conspiracy theories on the philosophical agenda. The term has been used to discredit the official version of John F. Kennedy’s assassination and to discredit the theories of powerful and sinister groups.