The Cold War, Nuclear Weapons, and McCarthyism E. America Enters World War II (1945-Present) f. Analyze the social, cultural, and economic changes at the onset of the Cold War era g. Analyze the origins of the Cold War, foreign policy developments, and major events of the administrations from Truman to present When World War II was finished, the USA, Britain, and France grew concerned. They wanted the nations of the world to accept Democracy. Yet, it was clear that Stalin wanted Eastern Europe to be dominated by Communism. Truman’s goal of “Containment” was simply to keep Communism from spreading any further into the world. Communism expanded out of the USSR. Containment failed. 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.

-In 1952, the USA detonated an “H” bomb. In 1953, the USSR also detonated an “H” 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.

-Brinkmanship is the willingness to use your most powerful weapons, at any moment, to keep your enemy afraid. President Eisenhower used the policy of “Brinkmanship” during the Cold War. 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. Nikita Khrushchev: Joseph Stalin’s successor in the USSR. The USSR launched the first Satellite on Earth in to space. It was called Sputnik. Sputnik was able to orbit the planet and send signals back down to Earth. 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. Francis Gary powers was shot down over the USSR. He was flying in a U-2 plane, like the one pictured above, and was spying on the USSR for the USA. Francis Gary Powers was imprisoned in the USSR after his U-2 Plane was shot down. He was sentenced to ten years. Yet, the USA was able to secure his release after he had served two years. 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.

-McCarthy died due to difficulties with alcoholism and McCarthyism is forever remembered as unfair tactics of accusations Joseph McCarthy increased the hysteria of the fear of Communism by claiming that Communist spies had radically infiltrated the United States and the government. He had no proof or evidence of these claims. He ruined the lives of many by falsely claiming they were Communists.. Some journalists, like Edward R. Murrow, bravely reported on McCarthy and pointed out that his accusations were untrue and his tactics were ruthless. 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.

-According to FELP, if you supported Communism, you were fired from government service. Many saw this as a violation of the Constitution. 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. Trial Hearings Under HUAC The Hollywood Ten and their lawyers: (from left): Front row: Herbert Biberman, attorneys Martin Popper and Robert W. Kenny, Albert Maltz, Lester Cole. Middle row: Dalton Trumbo, John Howard Lawson, Alvah Bessie, Samuel Ornitz. Back row: Ring Lardner Jr., Edward Dmytryk, Adrian Scott. In this depiction, McCarthy is forcing people to be added to the “blacklist.” 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.

-Ethel and Julius were convicted for spying on the USA and both were executed for treason. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were convicted of giving information to the USSR to help the Soviet Union build an atom bomb. They were executed for treason. THE END Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com All Rights Reserved.