LIVING WITH THE BOMB

America and the Cold War

1945 – 1960

I. LIVING WITH FEARA. Soviet Union

1. Stalin shocked by Truman’s use of nuclear weapons against Japan (1945)a. Afraid Truman would next use nuclear

force against Soviet Union

2. Wanted equivalent weapons as soon as possiblea. Had own nuclear development program

by 1944b.Had spies in US nuclear development program

(Manhattan Project)

I. LIVING WITH FEARB. United States

1. Afraid USSR would acquire nuclear weaponsa. Wanted to be the only country with

nuclear capability

2. Afraid Soviets would use nuclear weapons to expand communism

II. BRINKSMANSHIPA. Term coined by Secretary of State John

Foster Dulles1. Pushing a dangerous situation to the

brink of disaster so maximum advantage can be achieveda. “Playing a game of ‘chicken’”

2. Led to increasing nuclear stockpiles on both sidesa. Eventually both sides had enough weapons

to destroy the world many times overb. Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

III. FIGHTING A COLD WARA. Proxy wars

1. Use smaller, non-nuclear capable groups fighting each other as proxies

a. Chinese Civil War (1945-49)b. Korean War (1949-1953)c. Vietnam War (1954-1975)

III. FIGHTING A COLD WARB. Espionage

(spying)1. Soviets had

spies in USa. Ethel & Julius

Rosenburg tried and executed for giving USSR military secrets including the atomic bomb (1953)

III. FIGHTING A COLD WARB. Espionage

(spying)2. United States

used planes such as U-2 to spy on Sovietsa.Soviets shot one

piloted by Capt. Francis Gary Powers (1960)

b.Incident was embarrassing for Eisenhower administration

IV. THE COLD WAR AT HOMEA. Americans frightened by

Communism and possible nuclear war with USSR

1. Politicians attempted to capitalize on fear by accusing many people of being Communists

a. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated entertainment industry (1947-1961)

1’. Many actors, directors, writers blacklisted

b. Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI) used his position as a senator to accuse many people of being Communists

V. MCCARTHYISMA.The practice of accusing

people of disloyalty or treason without proper evidence

B. Term came about because of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s accusations against1.Army2.Presidents Truman and

Eisenhower3.Hundreds of Americans

C. Finally discredited by Edward R. Murrow

VI. DUCK AND COVER