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Published byRodger Hensley Modified over 9 years ago
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Happy Friday! Take out your guided notes sheet from yesterday. We have two more slides to cover!
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Today’s LEQ: How did anxieties raised by the Cold War affect life in the United States?
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Communists Suspected at Home Not all Americans agreed with gov’t definition of communism; some thought it was more fair than capitalism Everyone shared what society produced No extremes between rich and poor As Cold War “heated up,” so did fears of communist subversion To calm public anxiety, gov’t employers required to take loyalty oath
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House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Formed in 1938 to investigate subversive organizations In 1947, focused on communist influence in the film industry “Large numbers of moving pictures that come out of Hollywood carry the Communist line” HUAC questioned writers, actors, and directors about their political beliefs Ten witnesses refused to answer – called the Hollywood Ten; charged with contempt of Congress Resulted in blacklist of people thought to be communist; those named could no longer find work making films
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Spy Cases Rise Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb in 1949 with help from spies British physicist, Klaus Fuchs, confessed he’d spied for the Soviet Union during work on the Manhattan Project Trail of espionage led investigators to Americans, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg; tried, convicted and executed in 1953 for passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union Americans feared the federal government was riddled with traitors
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The Rise and Fall of Joseph McCarthy Senator from Wisconsin, claimed to have a list of 205 communists working in high government posts At first, had widespread public support; spent two years hunting down subversives Never actually made a solid case against anyone but caused many to lose their jobs; such reckless persecution became known as McCarthyism Even accused both the Army and President Eisenhower of being “soft on Communism” Eventually, public opinion turned against McCarthy and he faded from the national scene
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Creating a Civil Defense System Nuclear Arms Race caused major anxiety 1951, Federal Civil Defense Administration (FDCA) established to help Americans survive a nuclear attack Civil preparedness became part of daily life Bomb shelters Duck-and-cover drills Evacuation plans Many began to protest around this simple idea: “Peace is the only defense against nuclear war.” Duck and Cover Video Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw60
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Key “Battles” 1. Berlin Blockade 2. Berlin Wall 3. Korean War 4. Nuclear Arms Race 5. Space Race (coming soon!) 6. Vietnam War (coming soon!)
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Visual Summary: Warning Signs Create two warning signs about lessons that can be learned from how the United States fought the Cold War at home. One sign should focus on a lesson learned from McCarthyism. The other sign should focus on a lesson learned from living in the Atomic Age. Each diamond-shaped warning sign should have these things: A short phrase that summarizes the lesson learned An icon related to the warning A description that more fully explains the lesson learned and includes at least two Key Content Terms ○ HUAC, Alger Hiss Case, Rosenberg Trial, McCarthyism, Atomic Age, FCDA
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S.O.S. Response Were the methods used by the United States to contain communism justified? State your position (thesis). Offer reasons. Support and defend your reasons with evidence and examples.
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Compare with your classmates. Compare your response with two other classmates. On the back of your S.O.S. sheet: In 3-4 sentences, explain how your argument was strengthened or changed after discussing the topic with your classmates.
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