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The Cold War Culture in America

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.

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The Cold War Culture in America

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  1. The Cold War Culture in America American Studies

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Civil Defense Programs • Atomic Bomb in popular culture- Civil Defense programs like “Duck and Cover.” • Other drills were made mandatory

  5. “Duck and Cover” • Duck and Cover!

  6. Fallout Shelters • Found in many cities like New York • Safe houses from nuclear radiation • Nuclear Fallout Video Clip

  7. Personal Bomb Shelters

  8. Home Bomb Shelter Home bomb shelter, Garden City Long Island

  9. Fallout Shelter Video Clips • Denver Model Homes with Fallout Shelters • Do it yourself Fallout Shelter • The Fallout Shelter: Protecting People from Radiation

  10. 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

  11. 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?

  12. 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 Let this be a worthy tribute to the memory of those people. Let my words serve as an expression of gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives to a great cause of the Soviet state at a time when the U.S. was using its advantage over our state to blackmail our state and undermine its proletarian cause...“[ - Stalin

  13. 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

  14. 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 • Video Clip

  15. 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

  16. Was Tailgunner Joe paranoid or was he on to something? • On to Something? – many influential Americans did have ties to communist organizations • But this usually occurred in the 1930s when fascism was a bigger threat • USSR did have a spy network which allowed them to develop an atomic bomb (1949) & a hydrogen bomb (1954) • Julius & Ethel Rosenberg convicted of treason and executed • Controversial decision at the time • Paranoid? – no responsible effort to separate fact from fiction • 1954 – McCarthy accused the US Army of being overrun by commies • Provoked Eisenhower to launch an investigation into McCarthy

  17. Senator Joseph McCarthy • All Write: What is your opinion of Joe McCarthy? Was he on a crusade to protect the US from communists? or Was he on a witch hunt to further his own career?

  18. 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

  19. 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?

  20. 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 • Space race Video Clip 1 • Space race Video Clip 2

  21. Change in schools and funding • Called for changes in all schools • National Defense Education Act- (NDEA) • NDEA was instituted primarily: • Math and Sciences • Low-interest loans to students • Federal Government insists on science and math – shift away from humanities and arts

  22. Today’s Benefits to the Space Race • NASA 1958 • Technology • Gave birth to the digital revolution Transistor

  23. 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.

  24. 1950s Movies • …reflect Cold War Fears!

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

  26. 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)

  27. The GI Bill • Provided returning soldiers opportunities to higher education that they otherwise would not have had • Free Books • Tuition • Stipend • GROWTH OF WHITE COLLAR JOBS!

  28. White Collar Workers Corporate expansion Office work was less dangerous and exhausting than factory work, and provided more opportunity for advancement. White collar workers often had little connection to their companies’ products, and often felt pressure to dress, think, and act alike. Blue Collar Workers New machines reduced the number of manual labor-intensive jobs. Working conditions and wages improved. Labor Unions grow! All time high in membership Changes in the Work force

  29. The GI Bill of RightsALSO provided low-income mortgages, enabling many to buy homes in newly built suburbs. Same house, prefabricated materials, built quickly and cheaply Suburbs, Cars, and Highways Levittown

  30. Interstate Highway System • Connect Major Cities (and Defence Installations) • Easy to move troops and weapons if necessary • Rest Areas • No traffic lights or railroad crossings

  31. Changes in the way we spend! • From Main Street • to shopping mall

  32. From restaurant to fast food!

  33. From Radio… To Television! The Honeymooners I Love Lucy

  34. All Purpose Credit Cards • All purpose credit cards! • Use in stores, hotels, gas stations, etc • Don’t Leave Home Without It!

  35. Cars became part of American culture as new businesses such as drive-in movies emerged.

  36. Cars are now seen as status symbols!

  37. Comfort and Security • Enjoying prosperity and recovering from war and economic depression, most Americans in the 1950s valued security over adventure. • Youth in the 1950s enjoyed more time for school, and for recreation, than youth in earlier generations.

  38. …in God we trust! • Renewed interest in religion • Fear of communism, etc • References to God were added to the Pledge of Allegiance and imprinted on U.S. currency.

  39. Men’s and Women’s Roles • Men and women were expected to play strictly defined roles in the 1950s. • Men hold jobs and support their families • Women were expected to perform domestic duties.

  40. Rock and Roll music style based on black rhythm and blues, Many adults disliked rock-and-roll music, claiming that it encouraged immorality.

  41. Rock and Roll in the ‘50s

  42. Youthful Rebellions Beatniks Young people (often artists and writers) rejected money, powerand conformity (no traditional jobs for us!) Beatniks shocked many Americans with their open sexuality and use of illegal drugs. Expressed themselves with poetry and modern jazz music

  43. Abstract Expressionism – unstructured, no rules (non-conformist) • Looking for an emotional response, not your intellectual appreciation

  44. Rural and Urban Poverty • Hidden behind the new gadgets and houses was Poverty • Some argued that 50 Million were below the poverty line • Minorities moved into the cities in large numbers while Middle class whites move out • Cities lose economic and political power due to this change in classes • This will lead to more crime in what becomes termed the “inner city”

  45. Urban renewal • Federal and State, and local governments tried to reverse the trend • Cleared large tracts of older housing and built freeways and developments to “revitalize” downtown areas • Drives the poor into overcrowded areas

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