Cold War Blacklisting Essay

The era of the Cold War was a frightening and pivotal time in history. The threat of nuclear war and communism caused unrest among the American public. During the Cold War, the United States government used propaganda to combat growing social issues involving the communist threat. The United States government utilized agitprop to attack communism and defend the American way of life by promoting blacklisting, anti-Russian practices, and the desensitization of Americans.
Blacklisting was a major propaganda tactic of the government used to counter the threat of communism. If a person was placed on the blacklist, they were ostracized by many in society and found it difficult to find work, buy a home, and enjoy the basic social liberties granted to American citizens. In the beginning, blacklisting was a way in which to weed out communists, but quickly it …show more content…
The lives of Russians in America at this time were especially difficult. Just like those blacklisted, anyone in America who was of Russian descent experienced severe discrimination. They were forced to live in lower class homes, work low paying jobs, and were subjected to a constant barrage of insults and ridicule by the American public. The government revitalized patriotic ideas and slandered the Russians, “national security agencies encouraged Hollywood to produce anticommunist movies … Moreover, urged that film scripts be changed to remove references to less-than-praiseworthy aspects of American history” (Foner NA). Hollywood created propaganda movies such as the Red Menace and Red Nightmare; thereby, generating hysteria among Americans. These movies represented American exceptionalism and promoted anti-communism. Many moviegoers left the theater feeling patriotic and harboring a strong distaste for communist societies, especially the