Awindow into the termoil of the sixties - Research Paper Example

Running head: A WINDOW INTO THE TURMOIL OF THE SIXTIES A Window into the Turmoil of the Sixties A Window into the Turmoil of the Sixties The history of the Cold War can be traced back to immediately after the Second World War, where in a meeting attended by Churchill, Stalin and Truman to determine the fate of Germany, thorny issues arose as to who would control Europe. Underlying differences in ideology regarding capitalism and communism arose (Kreis, 2009; Smitha, 2011). Although the Cold War was accompanied by little armed combat, threats from Cuban missiles and the rush to arms, especially nuclear, was cause for real alarm.

McCarthyism - which sought to exterminate any traces of communism in America, was also a common threat as fears of internal subversion of war were spread (Fried, 1998; Shrecker, 1998). May (1999) explores the insecurities faced by American families especially in containing explosive issues including nuclear weaponry and sexuality at the home level. To protect my family during the Cold War, I would first ensure that my family members are not dispersed so that in case of an attack no separation and missing person worries would occur.

In terms of the issue of McCarthyism and anti-communism, I would educate my family on the risks of taking hard-line positions on such issues since it was evident that democratic and constitutional rights were being trampled upon in the efforts to trounce communism (Shrecker, 1998). A particularly mind-boggling issue about the entire Cold War period is the fate of the Americans who harbored communism ideologies in their minds but were prevented from publicly demonstrating or practicing it through prevailing situations such as McCarthyism.

Could it be the New Social Movements that arose especially in the 1960s were a result of suppressed traces of communism? ReferencesFried, R. M. (1998). The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! Pageantry and patriotism in Cold War America. New York : Oxford University Press.Kreis, S. (2009). The Origins of the Cold War. Retrieved September 5, 2011 from http://www.historyguide.org/europe/lecture14.html May, E. T. (1999). Homeward bound: American families in the Cold War era. New York. Basic Books.

Shrecker, E. (1998). Many are the Crimes: McCarthyism in America. Boston. Smitha, F. E. (2011). Cold war 1945-1949: Truman and Churchill versus Stalin. Retrieved September 5, 2011 from http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch24cld.html