DBQ Essay: The Cold War

Post World War II the United States was suffering from what is called “Red Scare”. The Red scare was a propaganda tactic to make the American public fear the communist countries. This propaganda was fueled further by the Korean War and the Cold War. This was fueled by a congressman by the name of Joe McCarthy. President Harry Truman also added on to this propaganda as well.

Post World War II America was one of the most militarily active periods in American history, having been involved in three wars, spanning roughly from 1947 to 1992, in order to stop the spread of communism. Overall, the United States permanently broke its previous isolationist policy in an attempt to promote democracy throughout the world; however, the wars proved to have serious negative effects on America. America was impacted by the military involvement in the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War. Shortly after the end of World War II, America and Russia, the two super world powers emerging from the war, divided various parts of Eurasia—namely Germany and Korea—between themselves. Following America’s decision to maintain world

When people are asked the question, What was the Soviet Union or Russia, what is their answer. Each person has their own thoughts or feelings about the Soviet Union or Russia. Some people say that the Soviet Union and Russia are the same. They’re not!!!!! The Soviet Union and Russia are two very different things.

World War II ended September 2, 1945 and Americans finally began the recovery from the war that took billions of dollars and millions of lives. Life started to settle down somewhat and families tried to pick up where they left off before the war had began. People thought they would finally be free from wars and the fear of wars. This “peaceful living” didn’t last for very long. Unfortunately in 1949, the United States caught wind of the Soviet atom bomb tests.

Imagine two superpowers, once allies, now enemies. Weapons of mass destruction; stockpiled, but never used in battle. A war, never fought. From 1945 through 1950, the wartime alliance between the U.S.A. and Soviet Union deteriorated. Several times, during the next four decades, these powers clashed, though never physically.

The “Great War” happened in 1914 and lasted until 1918. The war was triggered, because of the assassination of the archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was supposed to receive the throne. Documents 7 and 9 go hand in hand, because it shows the European Alliances. Documents 3,4,5, and 8 show the militarism cause of the war. Lastly, the Documents numbered 1,2, and 6 belong together due to the fact they show the Imperialist Competition.

The Red Scare was a fear of communism, this was instilled in americans because of the Cold War. McCarthyism is pertaining to Joseph McCarthy, a man that instigated this fear. It was considered to be the practice of making the problem of communism seem smaller by putting down and accusing people of being communist.

Why Did Arthur Miller Write The Crucible? Fear very often leads to unexpected and unwanted results. Decisions made in fear are often more dangerous than the thing being feared. In the United States during the Cold War fear had been running rampant.

Today, in the world there are so many different types of societies that unite for numerous reasons. They can either be big or small, but no matter what, a society is a society that stays united. However, one of the many things that can destroy millions of a united group in a matter of seconds is the compelling emotion also known as, fear. People who are power hungry individuals, see fear as an easy and beneficial tactic to gain power. In both the Crucible by Arthur Miller and the Red Scare, it is clearly evident that fear does not unite but rather splits both of these societies.

Hysteria, paranoia, and delusion was what drove the Salem Witch trials in 1692. Many people were executed by decision of the court because it believed in absurd false allegations. Justice in the court was perverted by fear and delusion (Johnson 9). In the 1940s and 1950s, many people in the United States were living in fear of communism; similar to those who feared “witches” in Salem. In the 1953, Arthur Miller came out with a play: The Crucible based on the Salem Witch Trials tackling McCarthyism; accusing others of being communists trying to overthrow democracy in the United States (9-10).

During the time that Arthur Miller created the Crucible, America was dealing with a very similar problem compared to the Salem witch trails. This problem was called McCarthyism, it was believed that a few hundred communists had entered the country, and they posed a threat to American safety. The accusations of communists in the country caused mass paranoia among the entire United States. Arthur Miller was one of them accused of being a communist and was trialed for it, which most likely lead to the creation of his play the Crucible. After the end of both events - the Salem witch hunt and McCarthyism - the effects afterward left devastating results and lingered for many more years to come.

The period during the Cold War had a deeper meaning than just the rivalry between the two superpowers, the Soviet Union and America. Turmoil and trepidation over the threat of the spread of Communism brought change into America. The belief of the integration of Communist spies into the country made the government question the loyalty of Americans. The period in which this anti-communist hysteria occurred was known as the Red Scare. In The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, a town in Salem, Massachusetts is a witness of witchcraft.