Personal Response

John Theese

The Cold War was a strange time for America. The US had faced conflicts with other countries in the past, but the conflict with the Soviet Union was different. The increase of technology had created weapons that could destroy a country. This brought the war home. In other wars, Americans feared for the safety of their loved ones fighting in Europe and Asia. They knew how dangerous the war could be. However, there was never a legitimate fear that the war could be brought to American ground. American citizens were thousands of miles away from any conflict. They were safe and protected from attacks. Even though life had changed for Americans, they were able to go about their daily lives without the fear of being killed. The Cold War was different. Despite the fact that no real fighting took place, there was the constant realization that their homes and their families could be attacked. American soldiers were no longer the only ones in danger.

The technology of both the USSR and the US was unheard of in the fifties. They had weapons that no one was ready for. In fact, the world might still not be ready for these weapons. The seize of the Atomic bomb could destroy a city like New York and kill millions of people instantly. Those who survive would eventually die of radiation poisoning. The scary part is that the Atomic bomb does not even do a fraction of a percent of the damage of a Hydrogen Bomb. These two countries were building these bombs with the realization that what they were creating could end the world. Neither side would back down. When one country accomplished something, the other was right behind, ready to surpass them. Both countries wanted to be the superior nation. It almost seemed like they were willing to put the world in danger to be that top country. For over a decade not only Americans, but the entire world knew that the Armageddon could be around the corner.

When it came to communism, people were willing to believe anything they heard. Joe McCarthy was looked up to as a leader who wanted to keep America safe from the attack of the communist world. He went after innocent people and ruined their lives because of his suspicion. For two long years, he destroyed the lives of over three hundred artists because of unfound claims of communism. Americans felt unstable because of the increased dangers of ICBMs. They wanted to feel safe and were willing to attack any threat they could. If there was someone who could possibly be a communist, Americans wanted that person gone. That sort of mindset was dangerous to America. It could have torn the country apart in the middle of the Cold War. Joe McCarthy was originally a courageous hero. But eventually when America realized he was causing too many problems and was making false accusations, he was censored. If America had stuck with him and followed his lead, America could have ruined the lives of thousands of its own citizens.

America was shaken like never before because of a war that had experienced no real fighting. While fear of what could happen made American citizens prepared for anything, even nuclear attacks; it also made citizens suspicious. They would accuse their neighbors of communism without any real reason except that they were afraid . There is not real explanation for why America was so afraid. It could have been that America was just getting over a worldwide war, or it could be that they were not prepared for the weapons and threats of the USSR. It could even be that citizens will always be afraid of an unstable power like the USSR. If that is so, what could happen if a growing power like China began to threaten the United States? Would Americans turn against their Chinese-American neighbors? Hopefully America never has to face an issue like that again or it could be turned upside down.