Cold War

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Cold War
The aftermath of the Second World War led to the advent of the Cold War that was characterized by widespread fear and panic of the infiltration of Russia spies into American society. Communism was considered a threat to the Americans because of its association with the dictatorship style of leadership where citizens were stripped of their liberties. This led to the Red Scare that was responsible for the wrongful accusation of innocent people suspected of being affiliated to the Communist-Party (Woods 46). Patriotism became a necessity required of all Americans that entailed allegiance to the American Flag while at the same time identifying subversive elements in the society. The second Red scare of the 1950s was more significant than the predecessor because of the impact it had on the citizens and the federal government.
Document 4, in this case, is an example of a publication that challenged Americans to show their patriotism by ousting the people labelled as sympathizers and supports of the USSR. The growing tension between USA and Russia had far-reaching effects such as the circulation of such print media as Document 6 that urges and outlines the tips that citizens may use to remain cautious and unaffected by the proponents of communist ideologies. The American public acted as watchdogs to identify and eliminate any threat to the country’s customs and tradition. Hysteria and paranoia became part of the lives of those living in America with everyone trying their best not to be linked to the USSR to avoid banishment through incarceration (Deery, and Schrecker 71).

As mentioned earlier the 1950s were characterized by widespread suspicion of treason among the populace
This is captured in the cartoon portrayed in Washington post in 1947. It shows a room busy with activities to check for credentials, and this mimicked the anti-communist campaigns witnessed during that period in history. Aspiring senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy used the growing paranoia to spear-head is political aspirations. He led the nations in ridding the public of sympathizers, but his accusation of political leaders and Hollywood celebrities lack the backing of credible evidence. McCarthyism had a significant impact on the society as it resulted in a mission where people suspected their neighbours and they dreaded the shift from capitalism.
Works Cited
Deery, Phillip, and E. Schrecker. The age of McCarthyism: A brief history with documents. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2016.
Woods, Jeff R. Black Struggle, Red Scare: Segregation and Anti-Communism in the South, 1948–1968. LSU Press, 2003.