Fahrenheit 451 Research Paper

As a result of the Cold War, many aspects in the American Culture changed immensely. It was a time in which two superpowers held each other hostage, each afraid that one would have complete control of the entire world. However, it also brought about the increase in technology, more specifically the television, which rapidly intruded people’s daily lives. In the interest of preventing communism from spreading to the west, the United States limited the amount of freedom of speech that was allowed in the country and advanced its technology in an attempt to always be a step ahead of the Soviet Union. Thus McCarthyism – the practice of making accusations of pro-communist activities – was incorporated, and led to the belief that any disagreement …show more content…
A big event that occurred during Bradbury’s active years was McCarthyism, and McCarthyism was a determined campaign carried out under Senator Joseph McCarthy to punish and rid of any communist supporters or institutions during the 1950’s. Because of the fear of communism within the nation, the American government censored everything that would be read, taught, or seen. However to the public it was considered an unfair policy because it confiscated their constitutional rights. In Deery’s article he states, “The speed of the Chancellor’s action, the lack of protection afforded by constitutional rights, and the relationship between political affiliation and fitness to teach, form the backdrop to this story of persecution. ” basically emphasizing that the problem to this whole case is that his freedom of speech was taken away. In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury discusses that many professors were limited to what they could teach during this time. Little by little these changes began to happen, beginning with the censoring of all textbooks, narratives and many other mediums teachers could use to discuss in their classes. Then over time they were able to rid of literature all together by burning books and making