The cold war between USA and USSR after the World War II had a deep-rooted impact on both the nations. The mutual distrust and suspicion reached an epic proportion. As a result, the NATO Treaty and the Warsaw Pact came into being. In America’s social life a propaganda was started to project USSR and the communists as the devils.
Cold war is described as the bitter relationship that grew between the capitalist USA and the socialist USSR after the World War II. No party was actually engaged in physical war because in that case nuclear weapons could cause massive destruction on both sides ; but the acrimony between the two nations reached such a height that mutual distrust and hate campaign became a way of life. This phase of cold war continued from 1945 till the seventies. Though within these long years situations cropped up when USA and USSR came very near to a full scale conflagration during military intervention by America in the Vietnam and Korea to stop Russian expansionism and the missile crisis in Cuba but an actual war was somehow averted. The spectre of use of nuclear weapons loomed very large as manufacture of weapons of mass destruction got under way on both sides. America’s distrust of USSR grew more with Russian expansionism into the eastern European nations up to and including East Germany. In retaliation, USA strengthened its alliance with the western European nations by signing the NATO Treaty with the western European nations in 1949. USSR also formed the Warsaw Pact six years later along with its friendly eastern European neighbors. The cold war became a long struggle to achieve global supremacy pitting the socialist USSR against the capitalist USA.
Cultural battles between the two sides also had a deep impact on American lives. National security agencies started propaganda to promote anything which was non-communist in nature. In Hollywood, films dealing with anti-communist themes were encouraged. The anti-communist sentiments went beyond control and started backfiring. Many lives were ruined due to weak evidence, unsubstantiated accusations etc. The anti-communist sentiments percolated to exert local impact.
There was a welcome improvement in the American culture also during this cold war era. The racial inequality which was the greatest flaw in the American culture was removed by various means and legislations. Laws banning racial discrimination were passed, establishing fair employment commissions were started and registration of black voters began to rise. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned discriminations in public as well as many private accommodations.
Americans were gripped by a sense of fear and insecurity during the cold war era between 1945 and 1962. There was a frantic search for internal enemies leading to the hysteria of Mccarthyism and also stifling of political dissent. It encouraged the growth of families as individuals sought security through marriage and children in the nuclear age. Prosperity reached an unprecedented level as American economy thrived very rapidly. Also, the spectre of an eventual nuclear warfare and the paranoia forced Americans to come to terms with the reality and to think of protective measures to be taken.
In case of a possible nuclear attack underground shelters are to be built. Provisions for non-contaminated food and water in sufficient quantity must be made. Also, a transistor will be needed for getting information on the war front. The MOPP gear used by the American Armies can reduce the potential hazard of chemical warfare. Specialised clothing and equipment to protect from nuclear, biological and chemical warfare should be collected, if possible.
But the question remains has the end of cold war era been able to completely dispel the environment of suspicion and distrust between the two great nations ?
References:
1. Shad’s Blog. Cold war influences on American Culture, Politics and Economics. UNLV History 102. 30 April 2012. Retrieved from web.
2. Cold war era and threat to American Families. 30 April 2012. Retrieved from web. www.opppapers.com/essays/Cold-War-Era-And-Threats-To/956582
