The Cold War Culture in America 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 1940s, 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 McCarthy Witch Hunts Sen. Joseph McCarthy 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

McCarthyism 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 Blacklisted People were fired for connections and associating with groups on Attorney generals list All walks of life-Teachers, Librarians, mail carriers, electricians, construction workers

*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.

1950s Movies …reflect Cold War Fears!

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

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 20s)