How Did The Cold War Reshape Ideas About Freedom In America

The Cold War had a significant impact on American foreign policy, changing it substantially in both attitudes to social and economic factors. The heavy influence of a difference in political standing between the Soviet Union and the United States, in conjunction with the high tensions that followed in the post war period, set the foundations for American foreign policy to adapt and change to better suit the developing political agender of the time. Socially, the two sides were heavily split, with the Soviet Union seeking communist support and allies whilst the US sought to counter their progress in a similar manner. Economically these relations with foreign countries that either joined the eastern or western blocs helped to further the

The Cold War changed American society by introducing both foreign and domestic fear into the lives of Americans. It brought neighbor against neighbor, and a trembling thoughts to all Americans. It gave an upper-hand to the men in the branches of Federal Government, and especially to the HUAC; moreover it

The Cold War was a pivotal time in American history. To a greater degree than most other wars, the Cold War affected American society in unfathomable and profound ways. More specifically, American culture transformed immensely during this time. From a constant state of anxiety, to changes in media and the arts, to McCarthyism; the Cold War fervently affected the quality of life, personal expression, and American politics. Predominantly, the Cold War inflicted fear and apprehension within the American people that was so overpowering that it affected every aspect of their lives and overall American culture.

World War II had just ended. Women that were working because their husbands were out fighting in the war came back home when the war ended. The 1940’s ended and it was time for a new decade. The 1950’s were looked as a state of mind or a way of living instead of another time in American history. The 1950’s were the most influential decade in American history because the civil rights act began, fashion was completely new and trendy there were more much advancement in entertainment and medicine, and suburban life was much more functional than any other decade in America.

In the 1950’s, Senator Joseph McCarthy turned Americans against each other by installing fear in the people regarding toward Communism. During this time, in fact, people were getting blacklisted even if they weren't communist. In an incident at the Republican Women’s Club of Wheeling, McCarthy delivered a speech. The situation involving the Senator escalated when he stated that the State Department is infested with Communist. In this point in time, due to the false allegations, people went on a decade long period of witch hunts. Sam Roberts, the author of “A Decade of Fear” stated that in fact, “...thousands of alleged Communists in the U.S. were arrested and deported during what became known as the Red Scare.”

This act was passed because of America’s fear of communism located primarily in Russia and Eastern Europe. This bill also included Asian and African immigration by putting a permanent ban on them and their descendants. This bill had perhaps the most devastating effect on the Jewish population of Eastern Germany. Many of them were unable to obtain visas after this act was passed and were forced to remain in Germany as the Nazi party took over. The effects of the Immigration Act of 1924 were devastating and limited the immigration numbers to well below three million for this

At the beginning of 1920, America had just witnessed the rise of communism as a result of the first world war. Many affected nations were in shambles and their citizens looked for refuge within the United States. This tide of immigration carried with it citizens from around the globe who brought with them their families, their culture, and their approach to foreign policy. America recognized this immigration as a threat and labeled many immigrants “communists”. This event was called the “Red Scare” and much controversy arose as a result. One of the most well-known controversies of this time was the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti. Sacco and Vanzetti created a split within the nation of minorities and immigrants versus the frightened and prejudiced homegrown Americans (“Sacco and Vanzetti: Were Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti Treated Fairly by the American Justice System?”). As a result, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti fell victim to an unfair trial based upon the stigma associated with immigrants at that time, their unpopular political views, and a biased judge.

American fears in the Cold War originated not only from Communism, but what it represented in American culture. After World War II, the popular culture demonizing the fascist regimes, the built-up aggression surrounding the system, began to move against Communism as tension between the USSR and America rose. Communism became viewed as a corruption; an infection that ruined the rugged individualism that Americans defined themselves by. Communism also, though its declaration of the evils of capitalism, decried Americans as living in an unequal society, that the United States lived in hypocrisy through its statements of liberty for all while it existed in a capitalist and segregated society. Americans saw the Soviet Union as the evil its heroic

In the war, the U.S. and the Soviets fought as allies, but after the war, their alliance fractured due to the conflicting ideologies of government. This controversy brought up an old phenomenon of anticommunism. Americans feared communism was seeping into the U.S. government and arguments were brought up that communist sympathizers posed a threat for national security. This fear lead U.S. senator Joseph McCarthy to start a crusade to find and expose American communists, later these tactics came to be known as McCarthyism. His campaign lasted from 1950 to 1954 and it became one of the most controversial movements in U.S. history (Ventura).

America felt like communism was already infiltrating their country as it was stated that there are communists working inside of the American government. This is shown in document B as it states that their is a list of communist party members “who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy of the State Department” (B). This speech was said right at the height of the Red Scare which raised the fear of the average American dramatically. This paranoia of communism was shown again with the Hollywood 10 who were convicted of being Communist and could never find work using their real name again. After the events of the Red Scare had happened America focused its efforts on not allowing communism to spread at all costs. This was shown in Guatemala when America overthrew the old government and stated that “The domination or control of the political institutions of any American State by the international Communist movement…would constitute a threat to the sovereignty and political independence of the American States”(F). This shows what America thought about the dangers of Communism as they felt if any territory that was involved with the United States falling to Communism is a direct threat to

The Cold War propelled the United States of America into a seat of previously unattained power in the world . American citizens spearheaded the push toward advancement in their search for the epitome of happiness: the “American Dream”. Post-war paranoia was driven by the supposed threat of the spread of communism, which Americans feared could interfere with the freedoms and liberties the founding fathers fought to achieve. This paranoia eventually controlled the thoughts and actions of citizens everywhere. The Second Red Scare spread across America like a virus, leaving a trail of dread and despair in its wake. The fear of the growing communist regime, a lack of trust between citizens and the government, and a zealous streak of American pride drove the U.S. toward internal conflict and potential devastation.

Following World War I, America turned inward and began to focus on itself. Yet, coming home from war Americans were also fearful of communism due to the recent Bolshevik Revolution where Lenin and the Bolshevik party gained control of Russia and made it communist. This scare led to drastic changes within our nation’s borders as America fought to keep communist influence out of its borders. This was such an impactful event that even the Attorney General of the time, A. Mitchell Palmer, set up a section in the Justice Department to handle issues relating to radicals, this sect of the Justice Department would be very active as, “More than ten thousand people were arrested—some for membership in Communist or left-wing groups, others on no greater pretext than that they looked or sounded foreign—and then jailed and interrogated with little regard for their right to due process” (Lehman, Phelps 260). This severe response to the scare of Communism demonstrates an inward focusing of America. Similarly, in the post-World War I time period America would demonstrate its interest in nativism which it would demonstrate through multiple acts being passed on immigration primarily, the Immigration Act of 1924. During this period of nativism, “Through the whole movement, from 1921 on, for more drastic curbs on the new immigration ran an increasingly assertive racial nativism” (Higham 313). That is America had

American anticommunism stems from a history of fear, and want of control over individuals, and groups of people who are defined as “others”. In this case “others”, is a term attributed to American citizens who were a part of, or held any relation or affiliation with the American Communist Party. Before them, it was immigrants; and before them it was African Americans, and Native Americans (Schrecker, 13). This fear and want of control over the American Communist Party, which immediately started after WWI in America, during the Red Scare of 1919-20; was used by the Republican and Democratic Parties, and their constituents, to gain and hold support in the United States government, and to attempt to shape American domestic and foreign policy

The success of McCarthyism can also be attributed to it resonating with American values of anti-radicalism and a wariness of the alien. Griffith argues that McCarthyism was grounded in a political culture rooted in American history which fears the unfamiliar and ‘un-American’. These roots can be traced back throughout American history, for example the anti-immigration efforts of the late 19th century such as the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. McCarthyism represented the fear that the United States would once again be ‘overwhelmed’ by aliens who would dilute the America way of life. Preston argues that the Internal Security Act of 1950 was in fact a continuation of the hostile treatment of radicals by the federal government, which traditionally

“The Cold War became a dominant influence on many aspects of American society for much of the second half of the twentieth century. It escalated due to antagonist values between the United States, representing capitalism and democracy, and the Soviet Union, representing communism and authoritarianism” (Tradshad, par. 1). This long lasting war had a lot of negative effects on the American people, but also helped many in a positive way of becoming free citizens. Although most people had feelings of hatred toward the Soviet Union, a sense of fear swept over the United States and many actions had to be taken to keep the enemy and their influences out. 4 done.