The Cold War, Nuclear Weapons, and Mccarthyism the Arms Race Begins

Home , Brinkmanship, Eisenhower Doctrine, McCarthyism

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The Cold War, Nuclear Weapons, and McCarthyism

The Arms Race Begins - In 1949, the USSR created an atom bomb. President Truman was forced to make a stronger weapon. This started an “arms race.” - In the USA, Scientists created an “H” (hydrogen) bomb and claimed that it was over 60 times more powerful than an atom bomb. - ______

Brinkmanship and the Eisenhower Doctrine - President Eisenhower, elected in 1952, took strong stands against Communism. In the Eisenhower Doctrine, he promised to give military aid to any Middle East nation threatened by Communism. - Secretary of state, John Dulles, claimed the only way to prevent Communism from spreading was to make the Russian USSR fear that the USA was ready to use nuclear weapons, if the time arose. - ______

Satellites in Space - ______- Khrushchev thought Communism would take over the world, but peacefully and not in violence. - In 1957, the Soviet Union became the first nation of Earth to launch a satellite into space, Sputnik. Despite the reduced tension with Stalin’s death, many feared that the USSR had such advanced technology.

McCarthy launches his “Witch Hunts” - In the 1950s, Joseph McCarthy, a Senator from Wisconsin, made countless, unsupported accusations asserting people were Communists. He ruined the lives of many - In 1954, Army investigations concerning Communism were televised; people saw McCarthy bully the witnesses and began to realize his assertions were simply false and based on delusional hysteria. - ______

Fear of Communism Grows - The Communist takeover of China shocked the world. Many found it unbelievable that the USA lost such a large nation to Communism - Republicans claimed Truman was weak on Communism. In response he formed the Federal Employee Loyalty Program to remove Communists from the government. - ______

More Communist Investigations - ______- The “Hollywood 10” was a group who refused to cooperate and went to prison. They claimed the investigations were wrong and unconstitutional. Many people were “Blacklisted” after being accused of being Communist. - For those accused, they were often fired from their jobs, abandoned by their families, and ostracized by their friends. Those associated with the accused avoided them to avoid being accused themselves.

So, were there spies in the USA? - Yes, there were spies in the USA. Yet, the massive infiltration of spies that McCarthy fabricated never existed. - Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were Americans who helped leak information to the USSR to help them build an atom bomb. Julius worked for the Army as an engineer. - ______

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Full Notes: The Cold War, Nuclear Weapons, and McCarthyism

Satellites in Space - Stalin died and a leader named Nikita Khrushchev was Stalin’s successor. - Khrushchev thought Communism would take over the world, but peacefully and not in violence. - In 1957, the Soviet Union became the first nation of Earth to launch a satellite into space, Sputnik. Despite the reduced tension with Stalin’s death, many feared that the USSR had such advanced technology.

The U-2 Incident - The USA sent secret U-2 planes over Russia to get images of the USSR for military use. - USA pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down and held in prison in Russia for two years for spying for the USA. - Cold War fears remained for decades after this incident. Many feared all out nuclear war could erupt between the USA and the USSR.

More Communist Investigations - The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), in 1947, investigated the movie industry to determine if Communists were working in the industry. - The “Hollywood 10” was a group who refused to cooperate and went to prison. They claimed the investigations were wrong and unconstitutional. Many people were “Blacklisted” after being accused of being Communist. - For those accused, they were often fired from their jobs, abandoned by their families, and ostracized by their friends. Those associated with the accused avoided them to avoid being accused themselves.