The Cold War is often seen as a dark time in American history, not just because of the international conflict, but because of the strife it caused within the United States itself. During the Cold War, the general culture in America was fearful and paranoid about the rise and spread of Communism within their society. One example of how this hysteria manifested is illustrated in the movie, Trumbo, which tells the story of when the Hollywood industry blacklisted famous writer Dalton Trumbo, along with other workers in the industry, who were connected to Communism. Dalton Trumbo and his associates faced bigotry and were effectively attacked for standing by their ideals, which was a reflection of how American culture had changed at that time. By
Around 1945, tensions began arising between the US and the USSR, which lead to the Cold War. During a 40 year time period, each nation tried to spread their political and economic systems. Both the US and the USSR wanted to spread their ideologies across the world. The origin of the Cold War was distrust; in “fighting” this war, the political and military tactics were the most effective.
Terry Tempest Williams constructs a convincing argument for why the US government should be honest with its citizens. She stresses the importance of this “transparency” in the government with particular reference to the deadly repercussions of nuclear testing. The US government conducted these nuclear tests because the United States wanted to remain superior in nuclear weaponry around the globe. After World War II ended, the Cold War began, and the United States needed to defend itself and its citizens from the threat of communism from the Soviet Union. “The Korean War was raging.
Austin Storie Mrs. Call American Literature January 31, 2016 Red Scare: The Era of Mass Hysteria Imagine being disowned from your family, losing your job, and facing jail time over an untrue rumor. That situation may seem farfetched, but it was a reality for some during the Red Scare. While government action during the Red Scare was intended to protect democracy, it did more harm than good.
Informative Essay: How did the Accusations of the HUAC reflect the effects of the Cold War in the United States? The House Un-american Activities Committee, or HUAC, was one of the defining points of McCarthyism and the Cold War. Fueled by suspicion and distrust, the HUAC was formed to investigated private individuals and public figures who were suspected of engaging in subversive activities or having Communist ties (House Un-American Activities Committee). While it was established far before the Cold War, the HUAC reached it’s peak during the Red Scares of the Cold War, and represented the attitudes of many Americans during this time.
In the 1950’s the cold war had begun. The fear of retaliation from communists was at large. Some Americans believed that communists were amongst them plotting. This lead to a dark time in history when American opportunity became limited for many. Most rights were limited, normal life was disrupted, and the most necessary human right may have been taken.
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.
Good points. When diplomacy fails, and a nation does not wish to partake in war, what actions can be taken to avoid sending troops into war? The United States has experienced war many times throughout the nation’s history, and the internal toll that war can be detrimental if not entirely supported by its citizens. Protests, peace movements, political turmoil, decreased support for combat troops and diminished support for the sitting president are some issues, which a war can draw out from the homeland. Covert actions can assist in the avoidance of war by seeking to gain or sway influence or spark actions in other countries.
The Cold War was primarily characterized by the ideological competition that was built between the United States and Russia, specifically the competition of economic values: capitalism defended by the United States and communism defended by Russia. The Vietnam War was an instance of this competition that arising between the two superpowers, as the communist Norther Vietnamese government clashed with the more capitalist Southern Vietnamese government.
Some historians believe the Cold War was inevitable because of the hostilities from both America and the Soviet Union after World War II. America believed that the USSR was an expansionist country trying to spread an evil, communistic idea throughout the world. Although the countries never directly fought against each other, as they only fought in proxy wars, there was still extreme conflict. The United States responded to the Soviets actions in Germany, Europe, and their national actions. These responses were justifiable, or so many Americans at the time believed.
During 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.