How did the Cold War affect Americans at home?

During the Cold War, many Americans believed that Communists, or “Reds”, were trying to destroy the U.S. from within.

House Un-American Activities Committee FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover By the 1950s, the lives of many Americans were investigated by the U.S. government because it feared that communist spies were in the U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover

Soviet atomic bomb testing (1949) For example, in 1953, scientists Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were tried and executed by the U.S. government for giving atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. Soviet atomic bomb testing (1949)

“Ivy Mike”; first Hydrogen bomb test (November 1, 1952)

During the 1950s, Senator Joseph McCarthy led governmental attempts to identify Communists in the U.S.

McCarthy made reckless accusations about people (being Communists), without using evidence to support his claims; this is called “McCarthyism”.

McCarthy’s actions ruined the reputations of many Americans that were falsely accused and he was eventually denounced by the U.S. Senate in 1954.

What important events occurred during Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency?

Dwight D. Eisenhower (“Ike”) was president from 1953 to 1961.

Sputnik 1 launch (October 4, 1957) During “Ike’s” presidency, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 in 1957, which was the first satellite in space. Sputnik 1 launch (October 4, 1957)

After Sputnik 1’s launch, the U. S After Sputnik 1’s launch, the U.S. government focused on improving the U.S. educational system.

“Ike” continued the U.S. foreign policy of containment.

“Ike” used the domino theory to justify U. S “Ike” used the domino theory to justify U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia during the 1950s (to help nations resist communism).

In 1957, under the Eisenhower Doctrine, the U. S In 1957, under the Eisenhower Doctrine, the U.S. pledged to help any Middle Eastern nation resist communism. Over 14,000 U.S. “advisers” sent to Lebanon (1958)

During “Ike’s” presidency, the U. S During “Ike’s” presidency, the U.S. population grew, the middle class expanded, and mass migrations to the suburbs occurred. Post-World War II “Baby Boom”

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

In the 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court ruled that public schools were required to be desegregated. Linda Brown

In 1957, “Ike” sent federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce the Supreme Court’s decision to desegregate public schools. “Little Rock Nine”