Century Video Pt. 2: Flashcards
1
Q
USSR gets the bomb:
A
- 1949 = US figures out the Soviets have the atomic bomb
- Americans + US extremely paranoid, and people lived in constant fear
- Bomb shelters were built on either side
- There was paranoia about the other on either side, and it was really quite insane
- Total destruction of each other and the world was now on the table
2
Q
China:
A
- Mao Zedongs Communists had defeated the US backed nationalist forces in China
- Communists really manipulated the peasants
- Things looked bad; Russia had atomic weapons and CHina had fallen to the Commnists
3
Q
Korean War Begins:
A
- June 25th 1950 —-> North Korea (w/ USSR and China) attacked the south
- “Lawless aggression will be met with force”
- Wartime draft interrupted US lives
- Chosian reservoir, soilders mowed down
- Temps dropped between -20~ and -40~ at times
- They were not prepared for the winter
- They were just out of a war, and there they were starting another one
- 53000 Americans were lost in 3 years
- They call it the forgotten war bc they were not greeted joyously.
3
Q
The Red Scare:
——> Rosenbergs vs McCarthy
A
- Ethel and Julius Rosenberg arrested for passing atomic secrets to the USSR
- Joseph McCarthy represented the US and its ideals, anti-communist
- He said that comms had infiltrated high government
- He was partly right, there were spies sharing atomic secrets
- People were weary that info they had could be taken
- They were tense, and did not want the communists to uproot everything, including their country
4
Q
Popular Entertainment:
A
- Mickey spillane, started out with detective novels, switched it over to anti-comm bc of the public
- He put the virus into his books, and it helped the ideals spread and grow
5
Q
Contaniment:
A
- The goal was to contain, but there were nuclear weapons involved
- War in Korea = Bloody Stalemate
- Douglas McArthur wanted to go after Chinese
- Wanted to use a bunch of nukes, but Truman wouldn’t let him
- When this was disobeyed, he was fired by Truman for unsabordination
- Total Victory = Total Kill? that was the Hydrogen Bomb
5
Q
HUAC :
(House Un-American Committee)
——–> Blacklists
A
- The fear was most damaging in Hollywood
- HUAC investigated many stars
- People were scared, studios kept lists about political undesirables
- Lives were ruined, and carriers along with them
- People were called up in front of committees
- FBI would just show up at peoples houses
5
Q
Eisenhower in 1952:
A
- WW2 hero Eisenhower on the top of the ticket
- He promised to bring peace to Korea and quiet the shoving at home
- Was the first to use TV to politically caimpaign
- He held promise for the country, as something fresh and new, and something that could stop the Stalemate.
5
Q
Importance of TV:
A
- Was very important politically
- TV lightened American lives
- Ceaser Hours was the buzz in the streets
- Really helped shape America at the time
