Anti-communism in the 1950s was a reaction to the rise of a cultural, political movement whose primary objective was to establish a communist society in the US. During this era, women were forced to return to their homes and continue with the maintenance of their domestic responsibilities. Their cultural roles were subject to much scrutiny. Actors were at the leading vanguard of cultural rebellion. In the process of their rejection of the American doctrines, the majority shifted their center of the art world to New York City. Groups of authors and artists, who were also against the American culture, relished musical skills such as jazz, abused drugs and studied Eastern religious practices. They published materials outlining the evils of the society and what the citizens did in the attempt to lead decent lives in it. McCarthy operated by creating an excessively terrifying hysteria and seldom adhered to his allegations, with ample evidence. The Americans fear of his frightening allegations led to the spread of his influence and power. The civil rights movement also languished greatly from anti-communism, by trying to initiate change when a single distortion was viewed as dangerous (Lieberman & Robbie 112).
The newly married couples, during this era, lived on the periphery of the large towns. Many critics noted the conformity of these suburbs where everything looked similar. All the natives watched similar shows on TV, and because of the advertisements, they all used the same gadgets and wore similar clothes. Life, particularly for women was based predominantly on their children. Many men felt dissatisfaction with the conservatism of the suburban lifestyle and found it difficult to resume their civilian lives, after long a period of service during the Second World War. Civil libertarians during this period emerged and advocated for doctrines that emphasized on individual liberty and lack of governmental regulations.
Stereotypically, the teenagers during this anti-communism period were termed as the “silent generation”. They were only interested in party raids, school, and other similar activities. Parents spent much of their time in ascertaining that the teenagers did not participate in any way in the rebellious activities.
Up until 1954 southerners had relished a free hand in maintaining a separate racial society, with a long fear of violent insurgency aided by intruders. While the southerners paid no attention to the racial arrangements of the northerners, the latter developed an alienated unequal way of life. The southern racial attributes were subjected to intense scrutiny by a white civil movement which was looking for new ways to curb the widening segregation and judgmental prejudice in the two regions.
The 1960 United States presidential election was one of the closest elections in the American history. Richard Nixon was the Republican insider and a Democratic newcomer, John F Kennedy. Although Nixon had won the popular vote contest, his opponent Kennedy received more votes nationwide. The elections manifested the end of the anti-communism thoughts among the Americans particularly based on the Catholic faith which had faced lots of prejudice during the period. The President’s emphasize on his commitment on fighting against the vice in the states was the key significance of the elections. In spite of his age and inexperience, Kennedy showed his patriotism and heroism during the Second World War. Unlike his opponent Nixon, he had a courageous character which had become a major theme of his campaigns. Although both presidential candidates were portrayed as moderates on nearly every policy concerns of the era, I would have preferred to vote for Kennedy to Nixon.
The civil rights movements in 1960 comprised of the social movements in the United States whose primary objectives were to end racial segregations and exploitation against the African Americans and ensure legal recognition of the citizens (Ceplair & Larry 294). The major activists of this movement were the labor unions, religious denominations, and the famous Democratic Party politicians. It was characterized by events such as civil resistance, actions of nonviolent protest as well as civil disobedience which had resulted in crisis situations. Government authorities and the Federal States swiftly responded to these conditions which had highlighted the inequalities encountered by the African Americans. The response of these parties clearly showed that Kennedy administration during his reign was efficient.
Works cited
Ceplair, Larry. Anti-communism in Twentieth-Century America: A Critical History. Santa Barbara, California Praeger, 2011.Print
Lieberman, Robbie. The Strangest Dream: Communism, Anticommunism, and the U.S. Peace Movement, 1945-1963. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Pub, 2010.Print
