Impacts of Cold War on the U.S. Culture and Domestic Politics

As World War II ended, many countries started to fix the damage that the Great World War had left them with. However, the tension between America and Soviet Union did not improve. During the Great World War, they were ally but after the war they were competing in military power, technology, and culture. The end of World War II also marked the beginning of a new period with high tension between the Soviet Union and America that greatly impacted American society, politics and culture forever. The post-war period helped to shape our world as we know it today. In addition, this intense period of time escalated due to the differences between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR). America represented capitalism and democracy while the Soviet Union represented communism and authoritarianism. After the Great World War, both the Americans and Soviets became the two most powerful countries. They surpass the rest of the world in both technology and military power. Their opposition soon became a global conflict. The contention was different from all other previous contentions because it was more about propaganda rather than military engagements. The contention was known as the “Cold War”. And it greatly affected on the American domestic politics and culture for the next half century after the World War II.

Culturally speaking, the Cold War affected the everyday life of American people more than any other aspect. Many Americans were fearful and showing hatred towards others whom they believed to be fallen into Communism. As Richard M. Fried said in “Springtime for Stalin in Mosinee”, “Moreover, by June 1950, other more overtly political anti-communist dramatics had matured. Legislators had learned to supply the market for theatrical anti-communism.” (Springtime for Stalin in Mosinee, 86). The film industry in Hollywood became a target of HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) because it could be a powerful cultural force that Communists might use to against the...