1. Living with the Bomb America and the Cold War 1945 – 1960

2. I. Living with Fear A. Soviet Union 1. Stalin shocked by Truman’s use of nuclear weapons against Japan (1945) a. Afraid Truman would next use nuclear force against Soviet Union 2. Wanted equivalent weapons as soon as possible a. Had own nuclear development program by 1944 b.Had spies in US nuclear development program (Manhattan Project)

3. I. Living with Fear B. United States 1. Afraid USSR would acquire nuclear weapons a. Wanted to be the only country with nuclear capability 2. Afraid Soviets would use nuclear weapons to expand communism

4. II. Brinksmanship A. Term coined by Secretary of State John Foster Dulles 1. Pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of disaster so maximum advantage can be achieved a. “Playing a game of ‘chicken’” 2. Led to increasing nuclear stockpiles on both sides a. Eventually both sides had enough weapons to destroy the world many times over b. Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

5. III. Fighting a Cold War A. Proxy wars 1. Use smaller, non-nuclear capable groups fighting each other as proxies a. Chinese Civil War (1945-49) b. Korean War (1949-1953) c. Vietnam War (1954-1975)

6. III. Fighting a Cold War B. Espionage (spying) 1. Soviets had spies in US a. Ethel & Julius Rosenburg tried and executed for giving USSR military secrets including the atomic bomb (1953)

7. III. Fighting a Cold War B. Espionage (spying) 2. United States used planes such as U-2 to spy on Soviets a. Soviets shot one piloted by Capt. Francis Gary Powers (1960) b. Incident was embarrassing for Eisenhower administration

8. IV. The Cold War at Home A. Americans frightened by Communism and possible nuclear war with USSR 1. Politicians attempted to capitalize on fear by accusing many people of being Communists a. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated entertainment industry (1947-1961) 1’. Many actors, directors, writers blacklisted b. Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI) used his position as a senator to accuse many people of being Communists

9. V. McCarthyism A. The practice of accusing people of disloyalty or treason without proper evidence B. Term came about because of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s accusations against 1. Army 2. Presidents Truman and Eisenhower 3. Hundreds of Americans C. Finally discredited by Edward R. Murrow

10. VI. Duck and Cover