The Cold War Culture in American Studies Arms

The Cold War Culture in American Studies

Arms Race • The destructiveness of the atomic bomb was well known by all • *Both America and Soviet Union used nukes as chess pieces during different times of the cold war • *Leads to the Great Arms Race: Both Sides create nukes by the thousands

The Atomic Era • Fear of Total Destruction • *Late 1940 s, USSR successfully test an H-Bomb • *700 times more powerful than A-bomb • Threat of total destruction • Paranoia and panic surround the cold war

Civil Defense Programs • Atomic Bomb in popular culture. Civil Defense programs like “Duck and Cover. ” • Other drills were made mandatory

“Duck and Cover” • Duck and Cover!

Fallout Shelters • Found in many cities like New York • Safe houses from nuclear radiation

Personal Bomb Shelters

Home Bomb Shelter Home bomb shelter, Garden City Long Island

Fallout Shelter • Denver Model Homes with Fallout Shelters • Do it yourself Fallout Shelter • The Fallout Shelter: Protecting People from Radiation

The Cold War at home- The Red Scare • *Who’s a “Commie”? • Mass paranoia of internal Communists plots to take over America • Fear of Communism ran rampant • 1947 -Federal Loyalty Program • FBI background checks on federal employees • Video Clip

HUAC • 1938 HUAC- House Un. American Activities Committee • Investigate communists in the entertainment industry • 1947 - Hollywood 10 put on trial and blacklisted after hearings • Freedom of Speech?

Spies • *Julius and Ethel Rosenberg • *Couple charged with conspiracy to commit espionage and accused of passing secrets to Russians • Found guilty and executed in 1953 • Only Cold War spies ever executed in U. S. History • *Today, evidence proves Julius’s guilt and Ethel’s innocence

Conformity • No one wanted to be accused of being a communist, communist sympathizer or supporter • People put on the perfect life to be very conservative • The more you conformed to the American ideal, the safer you were

*The Mc. Carthy Witch Hunts • Sen. Joseph Mc. Carthy from Wisconsin • In 1950 he went on a witch hunt accusing over 200 people in the government and armed forces of being communists • Mostly false accusations • Many lives were ruined

Mc. Carthyism • Name calling: “Commie” and “Pinko” • *Hearings were unfair, speedy, and devastating • *Many found guilty by accusation and no evidence • Senator was eventually proved wrong but the damage was already done • 1954: Censured by the Senate • He lost credibility and power • 1957: Died ruined and humiliated

Freedom of Speech takes a hit • Hollywood Ten • All walks of life. Teachers, • Blacklisted Librarians, mail • People were fired carriers, for connections electricians, and associating construction with groups on workers Attorney generals list

*The Space Race Begins: Sputnik • 1957 - Soviets sent the first spacecraft into outer space • Sputnik, a satellite, caused a tremendous stir in the US • Nuke from space?

Sputnik sparks Space Race • If they can do it, why can’t we? • It started the Space Race and the creation of NASA in 1958

Today’s Benefits to the Space Race • NASA 1958 • Technology • Gave birth to the digital revolution Transistor

Cold War Culture • Cold war culture developed in the US in response to this • Everything revolved around the threat of the Commies and total world destruction • Pop-culture and the Cold war- Books, movies, TV, songs, etc.

1950 s Movies • …reflect Cold War Fears!

The Baby Boom The baby boom, or rise in birth rates, that had begun in the 1940 s continue d into the 1950 s.

The Economic Boom! • Wartime savings – money to spend! • Consumer demand spurs economic growth! • *By 1955 – US produces half of world’s goods • *Incomes rise (twice as much as the 20 s)