Cold War Politics
The Cold War soon begins after the end of WW2 when Truman, the successor of Roosevelt became president in 1945 due to ideological differences between the two superpowers, United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold War had a massive impact on US politics as could be seen through the creation of political consensus between the Republican and Democrats in relation to the policy of containment that includes the Marshall plan, the establishment of the NATO, the NSC-68 report and also the Truman Doctrine as the response of George Kennan’s containment theory, which caused US politics to be specifically targeted at the Soviet Union. While there are political consensus to contain Communism, the Cold War had primarily polarised politics when McCarthy …show more content…
The Cold War had greatly influenced the result of the Congressional elections and Presidential election with regards to the Red Scare. The Second Red Scare began as the Cold War intensified in the late 1940s and early 1950s, that represented the widespread concern Americans had towards the fear of Communists subversion within the government and society, which led to a range of actions including McCarthyism and the HUAC with the role of Senator Joseph McCarthy impact in American Politics being the most notable and significant. Soon after defeating the Democratic party in the 1946 Wisconsin U.S. Senate Election through his smear campaign, Senator McCarthy was being advised by anti-communist name Edmund Walsh to capitalise on Americans' fear of Communists and by February 9 1950 he claimed that he had a list of 205 people in the State Department who were known members of the American …show more content…
Furthermore, McCarthy had also helped to defeat a number of liberal Democrats, including Adlai Stevenson and Harry S. Truman in the November 1952 Presidential elections with the help of the Republican party accusing Truman for being “soft” towards Communists. This is significant as even McCarthy had reached his downfall when he overreached his power with his investigation against officials in the U.S army, he had severely damaged the Democratic party as the Republican had gained substantial power due to his effort and even managed to gain congressional power in the November 1952 congressional elections and contributed to the victory of the 1952 presidential election.
To conclude, the Cold War had hugely affected US politics towards the Soviet Union through prioritizing the containment of the spread of the Communism and while the fear of communist had create some consensus between the Republicans and Democrats towards the policy of containment under the influence of Domino theory, it had primarily polarised politics in a way that favours the Republicans by granting them victory in various general elections and congressional elections and eventually the presidential election in
Who Is Joseph Mccarthy A Victim Of The Second Red In The 1950s
3563 Words | 15 PagesThe Second Red during the 1950s was a period of heightened political repression against communists as well as a campaign spreading fear of their influence on American institutions. It was this social setting where thousands of Americans were accused of being communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations and questioning before the United States government. The most visible public figure of this attack against communist subversion was Senator Joseph McCarthy from Wisconsin. He was noted for making claims that there were large numbers of Communists and Soviet spies and sympathizers inside the United States federal government and elsewhere. His name and legacy would forever be synonymous with the term
Summary Of A Decade Of Fear
231 Words | 1 PagesSam Robert’s article, “A Decade of Fear” explains how McCarthyism turned Americans against each other by spreading the fear of Communism. Senator McCarthy informed the citizens of America about Communist spies deep within our government on February 10, 1950. He states “ I have here in hand list of 205-a list of names that were made known to the secretary of state as being a member of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the state Department.” This quote proves that McCarthy did infact say to the public that there were Communist spies in the United States. It spread fear into the citizens because they were afraid that the country will turn Communist because of the Russian spies in the government.
The Role Of Mccarthy In The 1950's
339 Words | 2 PagesThe Cold War was a war of ideologies and propaganda. Hence, the smallest display of failure or mistrust on one side meant a great advantage for the other. This is exactly what McCarthy did in the 1950's. He created and developed a period of negativity in his time as a senator. By doing so, he gave the Soviets an advantage, and he weakened America's image internationally.
President Truman's Use Of Anti-Imperialist Insurrection In The World
1550 Words | 7 PagesAs a chairman of the Permanent Investigations Sub-Committee of a Senate Committee on Government Operations which was established in early 1950s, he expanded the first Red Scare of 1920, by continuing the investigation of the State Department and the military, looking for any suspected or “active Communist”. He even investigated the State Department’s Overseas Libraries, removing about 40 books by people he considered Communists, and burning some of them. Leaders of the Communist Party were prosecuted under the Espionage Act for conspiring to teach and advocate the overthrow of the government by force, based on the baseless evidence that Communists at that time were distributing Marxist-Lenists
A Decade Of Fear By Sam Roberts
1094 Words | 5 PagesSenator Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin believed communism was the most daunting threat to the American government at the time. Moreover, most Americans had only heard of communism, but were generally unaware of the topic until McCarthy preached his opinions. After his speech to the Republican National Convention in 1952, American citizens suddenly felt a responsibility to rid the country of communists. Although the thought of communism did not pose a danger to the average American, McCarthy’s rampant speeches made unknowing citizens feel a sense of urgency toward the topic. One reason Americans heard little of communism is because the government did not want them to know.
Allegory Of Women In The Crucible And Senator Mccarthy
1533 Words | 7 PagesDuring the time, just after the Second World War with the threat of the Atomic Bomb and the Cold War coming into play, Senator McCarthy could exploit these fears to do what he wanted. Many Americans had a legitimate fear of the Soviets, as they were a world power just as America was, and war/ideological propaganda perpetrated by McCarthy and those before him made many fear for their safety. In fact, many Americans built bomb shelters in case of a Russian attack, and at the time of the Berlin Wall, the majority of Americans believed World War III would occur within the next five years. So although McCarthy’s exploitations of American’s fears wasn’t very difficult to achieve, it was very
Similarities Between Salem And Mccarthyism
1007 Words | 5 PagesJoseph McCarthy produce a series of investigations and hearings during the 1950s in an effort to expose supposed communist infiltration of various areas of the U.S. government. The fear of Russia played a major factor in McCarthyism. Around those times there was a deep fear among the American people and government of Russia. This allowed for a much easier path to investigate the alleged communists without any pushback. As McCarthy built up speed there was less and less pushback and more support from pouring in from all corners of America.
Cold War DBQ Essay
1120 Words | 5 PagesThe Cold War defined the mindset of the United States citizens at the time. Giving them a perspective towards the communist regime and its people. Concerns by the American society also shaped the view towards communism, as well as new ideas spreading out in the United States communities. A series of proxy wars, nonconformity, unrest, and ideologies is what triggered the hatred of both superpowers during this period of time. Indeed, this period of history even shapes some of the ideas of people nowadays.
Cold War Dbq Essay
519 Words | 3 PagesThe Cold War lasted decades and tensions continued to heightened. Trepidation spread among American citizens about the future of their country and world. Would communism take over or would the United States stand their ground and push for democracy? Following the Second World War, the Cold War caused the American people to fear the growth Communism, an economic depression, and a possible nuclear war, yet the Eisenhower Administration successfully addressed these concerns and implemented ways to reduce these fears. First and foremost, the American people feared that communism would spread and take over governments in other nations beyond the Kremlin.
Did The Red Scare Influence American Society
901 Words | 4 PagesThe Red Scare quickly spread across the States as American people feared that communism would take over their country one day. The era had significant impacts on American society during the early stage of the Cold War. Shortly after the beginning of the Red Scare, a phenomenon which is known as McCarthyism appeared and shaped American politics. The anti-communist movement reached its peak in February 1950, when Senator Joseph McCarthy capitalised the fear by claiming he had a list of more than 200 communists working inside the American government.
Joe Mccarthy's Fight Against Communism
364 Words | 2 PagesDuring this time period, not long after the end of World War II, the USSR (Soviet Union) was on the rise, which led to the Cold War. The Cold War led to increased tension between the United States, and the Soviet Union due to competition and heavy conflict of interest. The involvement of the Soviet Union led to the dramatic fear of communism among the public after witnessing the horrific environment within the USSR. This helped develop McCarthyism, the idea of investigating, and accusing someone in power of being associated with communism. Joe McCarthy himself, the founder of his very ideal also gained much popularity within this time period due to many Americans fearing the rise of communist leaders and communism itself.
What Does John Proctor Symbolize In The Crucible
404 Words | 2 PagesDuring the Red Scare there was an enormous amount of McCarthyism, accusing people with no evidence; this explained best, “Joseph McCarthy thought that it was his duty to get rid of communists in Washington”(Kraine).”Worries that the Soviet Union 's communist ways would infiltrate the United States led to a significant amount of paranoia within the American government” (“Why”).Senator Joseph McCarthy was
HUAC History
1223 Words | 5 PagesSenator Joseph McCarthy in the early 1950s. Most scholars admit that the President faced enormous challenges domestically, internationally, and politically. While he occasionally failed to measure accurately the nation's political tenor and committed some significant policy blunders, Truman achieved notable successes. McCarthy led an aggressive anticommunist campaign of his own that made him a powerful and feared figure in American politics. HUAC’s work served as a blueprint for the tactics employed by U.S.
What Was The Impact Of The Red Scare
472 Words | 2 PagesThe Red Scare Cold War was a pivotal moment in United States history, as it marked a time of great political and social upheaval. The Red Scare was a time of fear and paranoia, as the United States government and its citizens attempted to root out socialist and communist ideologies across the country. The Cold War, which spanned roughly from the end of World War II in 1945 to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, was characterized by a period of intense rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Red Scare originated during this time and was driven by fears of communism taking root in the United States. The Red Scare took place in two distinct phases.
DBQ Essay: The Cold War
469 Words | 2 PagesThis kind of hysteria caused the Red Scare, which was a period that Americans thought communists were working to destroy America. This mass fear of communism ruined people’s lives and made them turn against their own family and friends. Joseph McCarthy played an
More about Cold War Politics
Who Is Joseph Mccarthy A Victim Of The Second Red In The 1950s
3563 Words | 15 PagesSummary Of A Decade Of Fear
231 Words | 1 PagesThe Role Of Mccarthy In The 1950's
339 Words | 2 PagesPresident Truman's Use Of Anti-Imperialist Insurrection In The World
1550 Words | 7 PagesA Decade Of Fear By Sam Roberts
1094 Words | 5 PagesAllegory Of Women In The Crucible And Senator Mccarthy
1533 Words | 7 PagesSimilarities Between Salem And Mccarthyism
1007 Words | 5 PagesCold War DBQ Essay
1120 Words | 5 PagesCold War Dbq Essay
519 Words | 3 PagesDid The Red Scare Influence American Society
901 Words | 4 PagesJoe Mccarthy's Fight Against Communism
364 Words | 2 PagesWhat Does John Proctor Symbolize In The Crucible
404 Words | 2 PagesHUAC History
1223 Words | 5 PagesWhat Was The Impact Of The Red Scare
472 Words | 2 PagesDBQ Essay: The Cold War
469 Words | 2 Pages