The effects of the Cold War, fear of the Soviet Union, and fear of a nuclear apocalypse, shaped US politics, policy, and culture from 1945-1960. No sooner was World War II and America and Russia’s wartime alliance dissolved, than tensions began to rise. The danger of the Cold War turning hot factored into every decision made in the US government, and plagued of thoughts of every american citizen. Although there was doubtless a lot of fear-mongering by Washington politicians, such as Joseph McCarthy, and some fears, such as those of Soviet spies controlling policy decisions in the american government, were way overblown, much of the danger was very real, and many fears were totally legitimate.
One thing above all else enabled the Cold War …show more content…
Those were real possibilities, and only narrowly avoided on many occasions. There was, however, little evidence for the idea that all “Communists would try to overthrow the government …. spy for the Kremlin. And if war came, they would try to sabotage the nation’s defense industries and other vital facilities.” In fact, most members of the American Communist Party were just like members of other political parties— committed to their principles, but not willing to commit traitorous acts to achieve political ends. Despite that fact, american officials compromised the very values they were supposedly fighting the Cold War for, doing things like preventing communist party members from fishing because they might “poison [the water] while pretending to troll for trout”. Anyone who wasn’t seen as sufficiently anti-communist, like Secretary of State Henry Wallace, was in danger of losing their job, or being added to watch lists. Major figures in american culture, especially those in Hollywood, were persecuted by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), and those who weren’t satisfactorily forthcoming with information about potential soviet spies, like Arthur Miller or Lillian Hellman, could be sentenced to jail time. One particular fear held by government officials and american citizens alike, was that Soviet agents were not just relaying information to Moscow, but actually affecting policy decisions that would weaken the United States. This was another worry that was greatly exaggerated. “The highest official linked to the supposed ring of communist agents was Harry Dexter White, an assistant secretary of the Treasury during and immediately after World War II” although he had the ability to possibly aid the Soviets as american director of the IMF (International Monetary Fund) there is little evidence
One thing above all else enabled the Cold War …show more content…
Those were real possibilities, and only narrowly avoided on many occasions. There was, however, little evidence for the idea that all “Communists would try to overthrow the government …. spy for the Kremlin. And if war came, they would try to sabotage the nation’s defense industries and other vital facilities.” In fact, most members of the American Communist Party were just like members of other political parties— committed to their principles, but not willing to commit traitorous acts to achieve political ends. Despite that fact, american officials compromised the very values they were supposedly fighting the Cold War for, doing things like preventing communist party members from fishing because they might “poison [the water] while pretending to troll for trout”. Anyone who wasn’t seen as sufficiently anti-communist, like Secretary of State Henry Wallace, was in danger of losing their job, or being added to watch lists. Major figures in american culture, especially those in Hollywood, were persecuted by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), and those who weren’t satisfactorily forthcoming with information about potential soviet spies, like Arthur Miller or Lillian Hellman, could be sentenced to jail time. One particular fear held by government officials and american citizens alike, was that Soviet agents were not just relaying information to Moscow, but actually affecting policy decisions that would weaken the United States. This was another worry that was greatly exaggerated. “The highest official linked to the supposed ring of communist agents was Harry Dexter White, an assistant secretary of the Treasury during and immediately after World War II” although he had the ability to possibly aid the Soviets as american director of the IMF (International Monetary Fund) there is little evidence