Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Cartoonist’s View of Cold War Hysteria
Day 4 Place Date Here In the context of the Cold War, whom does the man climbing the ladder represent? 2. What fire is the man about to put out, what does the fire symbolize? 3. Why is the title of the cartoon - Fire?- so effective? 4. What point of view is the cartoonist expressing here? 5. What government actions might this cartoonist consider part of the postwar anti-Communist hysteria? Cartoonist’s View of Cold War Hysteria This 1949 cartoon shows a man climbing a ladder with a bucket of water, intent on dousing a fire 1. Americans who have reacted with hysteria 2. the fire is the flame in the torch of the statue of liberty and it symbolizes liberty and freedom 3. It ties together several ideas: typically when someone shouts “fire!” it alarms people, and they react by immediately taking steps to put the fire out. The fire, in this case is communism, to which some people react by limiting Americans’ civil liberties. A well-known symbol of those liberties is the fire in the torch of the Statue of Liberty. Note that the fire in the actual Statue’s torch is not a real flame 4. The cartoonist fears that in the rush to make the nation secure from communism, Americans might extinguish the very freedoms that the nation stands for 5. the attempts to root out communism though Truman’s loyalty program and the work of the House Un-American Activities Committee) - Joseph McCarthy.
2
II. Europe Goes to War 1. McCarthyism - false accusations of being a communist & being “unAmerican” towards political adversaries - result & part of the Red Scare I have here in my hand a list of 205(people) who were known to the secretary of state as being members of the Communist Party. . . In the Cold war atmosphere of 1950, a Senator from Wisconsin by the name of Joseph McCarthy made charges that there were a number of people within the U.S. government under the Truman administration who were Communists. His charges gained so much support that only the most courageous spoke out against him. One such person was Edward R. Murrow. In 1950, it seemed to many Americans that the events in Asia supported McCarthy’s sensational charges. He waved his list of 205 Communists throughout his press conferences & on the Senate floor, but when finally pressed, he reduced the number from 205 to 57. ---He began as a freshman Senator from Wisconsin, but soon gained attention and was re-elected and made the chairman of an investigations subcommittee. - Again merely being accused by McCarthy, people lost jobs and reputations. NEXT SLIDE McCarthy soon took on bigger targets. In McCarthy’s view only democrats were seen as Communists. For example, this guy, (Click), Former Chief of Staff during the Cold war, architect of the rebuilding of Europe, and Secretary of State for the Democratic President, Harry S. Truman. He was a hero and a man of integrity. McCarthy claimed George Marshall was involved in (CLICK)... because of Marshall’s inability to stop the fall of Communism in China. --In early 1954, one of McCarthy’s assistants was drafted, and McCarthy charged that even the army was full of Communists. Army officials, in turn, charged McCarthy with seeking special treatment for his aide. McCarthy then turned his investigative committee against the Army. Democrats hoping to expose McCarthy for who he was, asked the hearings be televised for all Americans to see. --For weeks Americans were horrified by McCarthy’s bullying tactics and baseless allegations. -POLITICAL CARTOON Discussion – A. According to the cartoon, what does McCarthy really have, instead of proof? ANS. Bogus evidence that “stinks.” B. What is the message of the cartoon? ANS. McCarthy is a liar and not to be believed. Senator Joseph McCarthy
3
II. Europe Goes to War c. McCarthy’s Fall
Senator Margaret Chase Smith George Marshall b. The Rise to Power McCarthy claimed to have a list of communists working in govt. (non actually found) -just accusations caused people to lose jobs - No one stood up to him for fear of being accused- McCarthy supporters claimed “better dead than red.” - His targets were often too weak to fight back. c. McCarthy’s Fall - Popular support for Joseph McCarthy began to fade when missions watched him bully witnesses in televised hearings investigating the Army “A conspiracy so immense and an infamy so black as to dwarf any previous venture in the history of man,” Joseph McCarthy McCarthy soon took on bigger targets. In McCarthy’s view only democrats were seen as Communists. For example, this guy, (Click), Former Chief of Staff during the Cold war, architect of the rebuilding of Europe, and Secretary of State for the Democratic President, Harry S. Truman. He was a hero and a man of integrity. McCarthy claimed George Marshall was involved in (CLICK for Quote)... because of Marshall’s inability to stop the fall of Communism in China. --In early 1954, one of McCarthy’s assistants was drafted, and McCarthy charged that even the army was full of Communists. Army officials, in turn, charged McCarthy with seeking special treatment for his aide. McCarthy then turned his investigative committee against the Army. Democrats hoping to expose McCarthy for who he was, asked the the hearings be televised for all Americans to see. --For weeks Americans were horrified by McCarthy’s bullying tactics and baseless allegations. -POLITICAL CARTOON Discussion – A. According to the cartoon, what does McCarthy really have, instead of proof? ANS. Bogus evidence that “stinks.” B. What is the message of the cartoon? ANS. McCarthy is a liar and not to be believed. There wasn’t many people who stood up to McCarthy, for fear they too would be attacked. There were a couple who had the guts to do so. One was (R) of Main led a group of 5 other senators in denouncing McCarthy. Quote: “I speak as a Republican. I speak as a woman. I speak as a United States senator. I speak as an American I am not proud of the way in which the Senate has been made a publicity platform for irresponsible sensationalism. I am not proud of the reckless abandon in which unproved charges have been hurled from this side of the aisle.” And another was a journalist named Edward R. Murrow who on his TV show investigated McCarthy’s claims and criticized them. A movie has been made about Murrow and this event. Here is a dramatic depiction from the movie of Murrow speaking about McCarthy. Click to view a depiction of Murrow’s speech from the movie, Good Night and Good Luck.
4
dissent with disloyalty.”
II. Europe Goes to War George Marshall b. The Rise to Power McCarthy claimed to have a list of commies in govt. (non actually found) -just accusations caused people to lose jobs - No one stood up to him for fear of being accused- McCarthy supporters claimed “better dead than red.” - His targets were often too weak to fight back. c. McCarthy’s Fall - finally exposed as a fraud during the Army-McCarthy Hearings when he attacked the head of the Army & appeared deranged “A conspiracy so immense and an infamy so black as to dwarf any previous venture in the history of man,” Joseph McCarthy An embedded link to a 2:15 minute Vimeo video clip on Edward R Morrow from the movie, Good Night and Good Luck. Mac users, click on black circle to open browser and view 2:15 minute Vimeo video clip on Edward R Morrow from the movie, Good Night and Good Luck. Original Link: For the television network, Murrow and his television crew, this was a gamble. The broadcast could have backfired, and made all of them the target of McCarthy and his henchmen. It also could have turned the American people against CBS and Murrow. But they went on with the show anyway. “We should not confuse dissent with disloyalty.” Senator Margaret Chase Smith
5
II. Europe Goes to War A. Nuclear Arms
1. Deterrence - policy of making U.S. military so strong, that no enemy would dare attack 2. Brinkmanship - going to the verge of war in order to get what you want John Dulles B. Cold War in Skies 1. ICBMs could launch nuclear bombs across continents 2. Sputnik(1957) 1st Soviet satellite in orbit - fear of nuclear bombs launched from space 3. U.S. U2 spy plane shot down over Soviet skies - push U.S. to “catch-up” w/Soviet missle tech. “The ability to get to the verge without getting into war is the necessary art. If you cannot master it, you inevitably get into war. If you try to run away from it, if you are scared to go to the brink, you are lost.” John Dulles, Sec. of State In August of 1953, less than a year after the U.S. exploded its first thermonuclear device, the Soviet Union successfully tested its own hydrogen bomb. Eisenhower stepped up American weapons development. - Between 1954 and ’58, the U.S. conducted 19 hydrogen bomb tests. Japanese fishermen some 90 miles from the blast suffered severe radiation burns. The test was a warning that nuclear war could threaten the entire world with radioactive contamination. ---Brinkmanship - American policymakers used the fear of nuclear war to achieve their Cold War objectives , Secretary of state John Dulles(Doll-less) made it clear the U.S. was prepared to risk war of protect its national interests. Dulles said, (CLICK) -Many Americans were shocked that Dulles was prepared to gamble with America - or the Destruction of America. ICBM - Intercontinental ballistic missiles The CIA began making secret high-altitude flights over Soviet territory. The plane used for these missions was the U-2, which could fly at high altitudes without detection. As a U-2 passed over the Soviet Union, its infrared cameras took detailed photographs of troop movement and missile sites. By 1960, however, many U.S. officials were nervous about the U-2 program for two reasons. First, the existence and purpose of the U-2 was a secret. Second, the Soviets had been aware of the flights since Finally, Eisenhower himself wanted the flights discontinued. He and Khrushchev were going to hold another summit conference on the arms race on May 15, “If one of these aircraft were lost when we were engaged in apparently sincere deliberations, it could ruin my effectiveness,” he told an aide. However, Dulles persuaded him to authorize one last flight. That flight took place on May 1, and the pilot was Francis Gary Powers. Four hours after Powers entered Soviet airspace, a Soviet pilot shot down his plane, and Powers was forced to parachute into Soviet- controlled territory. The Soviets sentenced Powers to ten years in prison. RENEWED CONFRONTATION At first, Eisenhower denied that the U-2 had been spying. The Soviets had evidence, however, and Eisenhower finally had to admit it. Khrushchev demanded an apology for the flights and a promise to halt them. Eisenhower agreed to stop the U-2 flights, but he would not apologize. Khrushchev angrily called off the summit. He also withdrew his invitation to Eisenhower to visit the Soviet Union. Because of the U-2 incident, the 1960s opened with tension between the two superpowers as great as ever.
6
II. Europe Goes to War A. Nuclear Arms
1. Deterrence - policy of making U.S. military so strong, that no enemy would dare attack 2. Brinkmanship - going to the verge of war in order to get what you want B. Cold War in Skies 1. ICBMs could launch nuclear bombs across continents 2. Soviet Sputnik(1957) 1st satellite in orbit - fear of nuclear bombs launched from space 3. U.S. U2 spy plane shot down over Soviet skies - push U.S. to “catch-up” w/Soviet missle tech. Gary Powers An embedded link to a 2 minute Youtube video clip on Sputnik begins here. Mac users, click on black circle to open browser and view 2 minute Youtube video clip on Sputnik. Original Link: In August of 1953, less than a year after the U.S. exploded its first thermonuclear device, the Soviet Union successfully tested its own hydrogen bomb. Eisenhower stepped up American weapons development. - Between 1954 and ’58, the U.S. conducted 19 hydrogen bomb tests. Japanese fishermen some 90 miles from the blast suffered severe radiation burns. The test was a waring that nuclear war could threaten the entire world with radioactive contamination. ---Brinkmanship - American policymakers used the fear of nuclear war to achieve their Cold War objectives , Secretary of state John Dulles(Doll-less) made it clear the the U.S. was prepared to risk war of protect its national interests. Dulles said, (CLICK) -Many Americans were shocked that Dulles was prepared to gamble with America - or the Destruction of America. ICBM - Intercontinental ballistic missiles The CIA began making secret high-altitude flights over Soviet territory. The plane used for these missions was the U-2, which could fly at high altitudes without detection. As a U-2 passed over the Soviet Union, its infrared cameras took detailed photographs of troop movement and missile sites. By 1960, however, many U.S. officials were nervous about the U-2 program for two reasons. First, the existence and purpose of the U-2 was a secret. Second, the Soviets had been aware of the flights since Finally, Eisenhower himself wanted the flights discontinued. He and Khrushchev were going to hold another summit conference on the arms race on May 15, “If one of these aircraft were lost when we were engaged in apparently sincere deliberations, it could ruin my effectiveness,” he told an aide. However, Dulles persuaded him to authorize one last flight. That flight took place on May 1, and the pilot was Francis Gary Powers. Four hours after Powers entered Soviet airspace, a Soviet pilot shot down his plane, and Powers was forced to parachute into Soviet- controlled territory. The Soviets sentenced Powers to ten years in prison.RENEWED CONFRONTATION At first, Eisenhower denied that the U-2 had been spying. The Soviets had evidence, however, and Eisenhower finally had to admit it. Khrushchev demanded an apology for the flights and a promise to halt them. Eisenhower agreed to stop the U-2 flights, but he would not apologize. Khrushchev angrily called off the summit. He also withdrew his invitation to Eisenhower to visit the Soviet Union. Because of the U-2 incident, the 1960s opened with tension between the two superpowers as great as ever.
7
II. Europe Goes to War C. Cold War Legacy
1. Military Industrial Complex - Eisenhower warned that the military industrial complex, employing millions of Americans & having a financial stake in war-making, could become a threat to peace “ Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action...We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications...(In) government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted(unnecessary) influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persists.” Dwight D. Eisenhower, Farewell Address, 1961 Military Industrial Complex - Eisenhower warned that large companies who invest billions of dollars in making weapons for the U.S. only profit when the U.S. is at war, or is threatened by war. It is in their best financial interest for the U.S. to be in a constant state of war. He warned of their influence on the government to be at war. Now time for some good old Cold War Propaganda. (Video)
8
II. Europe Goes to War C. Cold War Legacy
1. Military Industrial Complex - Eisenhower warned that the military industrial complex, employing millions of Americans & having a financial stake in war-making, could become a threat to peace “ Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action...We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications...(In) government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted(unnecessary) influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persists.” Dwight D. Eisenhower, Farewell Address, 1961 Military Industrial Complex - Eisenhower warned that large companies who invest billions of dollars in making weapons for the U.S. only profit when the U.S. is at war, or is threatened by war. It is in their best financial interest for the U.S. to be in a constant state of war. He warned of their influence on the government to be at war. Now time for some good old Cold War Propaganda. (Video) An embedded link to a 3:19 minute Youtube video clip on Propaganda begins here. Mac users, click on black circle to open browser and view 2 minute Youtube video clip on Cold War Propaganda. Original Link:
9
What was President Eisenhower’s concerns about the Industrial Military Complex?
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com Inc.
All rights reserved.