Eisenhower and the Cold War
Fear can negatively impact citizens of governments trying to end or contain differences in other government's systems.
"Fearing subversive activity, the government tried to root out Communism in government, Hollywood, and labor unions, while Americans learned to live with the threat of nuclear attack."
-The American Vision: Modern Times (p.546)
-The American Vision: Modern Times (p.546)
Many innocents were convicted for crimes that they were not guilty of, all due to, some say excessive, fear of Communist Subversion.
The Red Scare began in 1945, when a clerk named Igor Gouzenko walked out of the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa, Canada, and defected. Gouzenko carried several documents revealing a massive effort by the Soviet Union to infiltrate organizations and government agencies in Canada and the United Sates, with the specific goal of obtaining information about the atom bomb.
The Gouzenko case stunned Americans. It implied that spies had infiltrated the American government. Soon, however, the search for spies escalated into a general fear of Communist Subversion.... many innocent civilians were persecuted and convicted of crimes they had not committed.
-The American Vision: Modern Times (P.546)
The Gouzenko case stunned Americans. It implied that spies had infiltrated the American government. Soon, however, the search for spies escalated into a general fear of Communist Subversion.... many innocent civilians were persecuted and convicted of crimes they had not committed.
-The American Vision: Modern Times (P.546)
Economic-
As in all wars, the production of weapons and other supplies can boost a country's economy beyond belief. However, in the Cold War, economy was booming. This may be due to the fact that the productions of weapons was beyond average. The amount of nuclear bombs and missiles that were created were astounding, and there were also new types of technology, such as the submarine that could launch 16 nuclear missiles. This added to the average growth during wartime due to food and supply production adds up to tremendous growth.
As in all wars, the production of weapons and other supplies can boost a country's economy beyond belief. However, in the Cold War, economy was booming. This may be due to the fact that the productions of weapons was beyond average. The amount of nuclear bombs and missiles that were created were astounding, and there were also new types of technology, such as the submarine that could launch 16 nuclear missiles. This added to the average growth during wartime due to food and supply production adds up to tremendous growth.
Religious-
In the Cold War, to rally even more people to their cause, American Propaganda would make the enemy look as evil as possible. The tale that if Communism came to power that all religions would be banned rallied the most people to the cause. Many posters included "Imagine no religion", "Communism is Atheism", and other propaganda that was mostly tall tales, just to agitate the citizens. |
Politics-
The Cold War brought quite a few new ambitious political campaigners into office, including Eisenhower. When you are in war, a war veteran could be an optimal choice for your leader, even though they may be rash. Also, many people in Russia went for the power. And throughout the war they battled with each other with propaganda and tall tales.
The Cold War brought quite a few new ambitious political campaigners into office, including Eisenhower. When you are in war, a war veteran could be an optimal choice for your leader, even though they may be rash. Also, many people in Russia went for the power. And throughout the war they battled with each other with propaganda and tall tales.
The USA lost China, a powerful country, to communism. To attone for this loss, they pledged to help the Southern Vietnamese in their war for independence. However, they couldn't commit their full power because that would weaken their presence in areas such as Europe, where communism was beginning to take root.
In a wave of immigrants, many immigrants supported communism. This caused many problems with anti-communism in America during the Cold War. Many Communists had made a new life and became citizens in the USA. However, these people were often charged with supporting Russia, although some were guilty, most were innocent victims. McCarthy viciously attacked so many of these innocent victims, and many that weren't communists.
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The Victory for the Soviet Union in WWI left them time and money to grow economically and militaristically over the following years. The amount that they grew was astounding, but with the threat of Communism, backed by a country of that power, it was not a good thing.
The Roaring twenties was a time of innovation and partying. While this may not have impacted the Cold War directly, the innovations in technology that were made contributed to war inventions in the span of the Cold War. Also, the Roaring Twenties was a time of new thinking. These people could have supported a new way of life, the USA under Communist rule.
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Due to serious economic problems, many citizens who had had it rough during the Great Depression believed that their form of government wasn't the best way to go. These people were seen as a threat to society, but even though they learned to stay quiet, they never fully supported the Democratic government.
The innovative ideas that took root during industrialization grew farther and farther, getting more and more complex, into and past the Cold War. The replacement of workers by machines helped the production of virtually everything in wartime, and especially the Cold War, with all the Atom Bombs and submarines and other new technology being created for the war effort.
The Westward Migration that took place long before the Cold War impacted it, though not tremendously. The larger amount of land allowed a more spread out population, which provided more soldiers for combat. Also, secluded places in deserts and such were sometimes used to test newer versions of atom bombs, perfecting the model so it wouldn't be faulty in a live situation.
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The Black 14 event that took place in Wyoming did not have a large, direct, significant impact rooting directly from that incident. However, it did effect it, however minutely it did. The demanded change in racism in entertainment happened during the Civil Rights Movement, which allowed them to make a case. This case provoked innovation, and equality for blacks. This change did not happen overnight though. But it happened in time for the Cold War.
Why Should You Care?
So you just learned some interesting facts, and how so many things contributed to the Cold War. Cool. It doesn't affect your life at all. Actually, it does.
The 46 year long Cold War has had many effects on how we live our lives. Currently, there are conflicts between Russia, Ukraine, and Crimea. If we had lost the Cold War, those conflicts may not have been happening. Instead, the entire Eastern Hemisphere could be controlled by a Communist Soviet Union that never collapsed. The West could be under Communist rule as well, or worse yet, largely composed of ashes. So the next time you taste what freedom feels like, think about all the people who sacrificed so you could enjoy the little things. They wouldn't want to be forgotten.
The 46 year long Cold War has had many effects on how we live our lives. Currently, there are conflicts between Russia, Ukraine, and Crimea. If we had lost the Cold War, those conflicts may not have been happening. Instead, the entire Eastern Hemisphere could be controlled by a Communist Soviet Union that never collapsed. The West could be under Communist rule as well, or worse yet, largely composed of ashes. So the next time you taste what freedom feels like, think about all the people who sacrificed so you could enjoy the little things. They wouldn't want to be forgotten.
Works Cited
Primary Sources
Hoover, J. Edgar. "How to Fight Communism." Newsweek 9 June 1947: n. pag. Print.
Wall, Wendy. "Anti-Communism in the 1950's." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.gilderlehrman.org>.
Secondary Sources
"The Cold War." ABC Clio: World History. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2014.
"Cold War." U.S. History in Context. Gale Cengage Learning, n.d. Web. 23 May 2014.
"GoWyld.net." History Study Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
JSTOR. Print.
Images
"The Black 14." Salt Lake Tribune. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"The Cold War." Annals of Former Worlds. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2014. <http://blogs.glnd.k12.va.us/nlewis/>.
"The Cold War." Docstoc. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2014. <http://www.docstoc.com/docs/122533072/The-Cold-War-begins-1945--1948>.
"Cold War." Western Spring. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Flags." World Politics Uncovered. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Flappers." Black Dress Red Wagon. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Machine Gun." 21st Century Learning. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Monopoly Illustration." Youtube. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014. Posted in Comments.
"Reconstruction." Pixels. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Stalin Religion." Defending Contending. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"T-72 on Parade in East Berlin." Harvey Black Author. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2014. <http://harveyblackauthor.org/tag/checkpoint-in-west-berlin/>.
"Unemployed line." Suffolk. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Weaving Mill." apworldquig. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"The West Versus China." Exposing the Dreamworld. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 June 2014. <http://www.davidicke.com/headlines/47268-the-west-versus-china-a-new-cold-war-begins-on-libyan-soil/>.
"Westward Expansion." Doc Stoc. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
Primary Sources
Hoover, J. Edgar. "How to Fight Communism." Newsweek 9 June 1947: n. pag. Print.
Wall, Wendy. "Anti-Communism in the 1950's." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.gilderlehrman.org>.
Secondary Sources
"The Cold War." ABC Clio: World History. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2014.
"Cold War." U.S. History in Context. Gale Cengage Learning, n.d. Web. 23 May 2014.
"GoWyld.net." History Study Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
JSTOR. Print.
Images
"The Black 14." Salt Lake Tribune. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"The Cold War." Annals of Former Worlds. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2014. <http://blogs.glnd.k12.va.us/nlewis/>.
"The Cold War." Docstoc. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2014. <http://www.docstoc.com/docs/122533072/The-Cold-War-begins-1945--1948>.
"Cold War." Western Spring. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Flags." World Politics Uncovered. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Flappers." Black Dress Red Wagon. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Machine Gun." 21st Century Learning. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Monopoly Illustration." Youtube. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014. Posted in Comments.
"Reconstruction." Pixels. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Stalin Religion." Defending Contending. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"T-72 on Parade in East Berlin." Harvey Black Author. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 June 2014. <http://harveyblackauthor.org/tag/checkpoint-in-west-berlin/>.
"Unemployed line." Suffolk. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"Weaving Mill." apworldquig. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
"The West Versus China." Exposing the Dreamworld. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 June 2014. <http://www.davidicke.com/headlines/47268-the-west-versus-china-a-new-cold-war-begins-on-libyan-soil/>.
"Westward Expansion." Doc Stoc. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.