C.1 Cold War on the Home Front: Propaganda and Policy

Question 1

USSR

Answer 1

• propaganda showed people that the USSR was successful at everything
• belief in Cult of Personality–portraying Stalin as a paternalistic figure
• fear of America and patriotic ideas were instilled in children at a young age
• show trials of traitors
• criticism of American culture–could be persecuted for enjoying it–Russian ballet, literature and art were celebrated
• demonstrations of technology
• people were living in poverty with rationing–people accepted it because of fear of Stalin and they believed money was needed for war
• Free Europe, radio broadcast to the whole of Europe. People secretly listened to it, being influenced by american culture
• fear of nuclear war

Question 2

USA

Answer 2

• propaganda had to work alongside the commercial media in the country
• propaganda showed USSR attacked american ideals–was a personal threat to family and home
• Committee on Un-American Activities– had public trials for suspected communists
• fear of nuclear war
• propaganda showed communists as shrewd, murderous, godless, dirty, lying and determined.
• paranoia–USSRs take over of China and development of the atomic bomb

Question 3

Europe

Answer 3

-influenced by the ideas in the US through Radio Free Europe