Significant Events

Significant Events in American History

Ashlee Holtz

HIS 135

3/14/2010

Erin Montague

Abstract

This paper is being to explain either major social, economic, or political events that have happened in America since the end of World War II, in 1945. There have been many changes throughout the United States that have shaped America into the country it is today, and these changes came from the political leaders of America, the people who live and work in America, and also people outside of America who continue to do business with the United States.

The 1950s in America

During the 1950s in America, the Cold War that began in 1945 was still ongoing. The United States was still battling it out with the USSR and it seemed like there was going to be no end to this war. The Korean was started in 1950 and lasted until 1953. This was a civil war between North Korea, which is led by communism, and the Republic of South Korea. The American politicians were afraid of communism and did not want any country to be ruled by a communist party. So this war quickly escalated between the Superpowers of the World, America rushed to aid South Korea and the USSR rushed to the aid of North Korea.

This now leads to why the political event of the 1950s had the most powerful effect on the American people. Senator Joseph R. McCarthy was one of the most influential anticommunism supporters in American history. He made the American people fear communism and convinced the American people that there were many communists living in America. Senator McCarthy accused 205 Americans working for the American government of being communists, with this fear, there were investigations of many other people who lived in and worked in America. This led to jailing and deporting many people all because of fear the American Politicians had.

Many famous actors and writers were put on a “blacklist”, which meant they would not be hired and subject to...