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UNITED STATES V. SOVIET UNION THE RED SCARE (WAR AT HOME) After WWII, many Americans became worried that communists might be working secretly in the United States to overthrow the government. Between 1946 and 1950, several people in the United States were arrested as Soviet spies. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg (New York natives) were convicted of stealing nuclear secrets. Despite protests, they were executed in 1953. In 1957, President Truman ordered investigations of government workers to determine if they were loyal to the United States. Thousands of employees underwent questioning. Nearly 3,000 people were forced to resign, even though little evidence of communist activity was found. MCCARTHYISM In 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin announced that he had a list of 205 state department employees who were Communist party members. McCarthy was never able to prove his claims. Yet his dramatic charges won him national attention. During the next four years, McCarthy’s campaign spread fear and suspicion across the nation. Businesses and colleges questioned employees,. Many people were fired. Others, afraid of losing their own jobs, refused to defend accused co-workers. In 1954, the Senate held televised hearings to investigate McCarthy’s charges that there were communists in the United States Army. MCCARTHYISM CONT… On national television, the American public watched on as Senator McCarthy bullied witnesses, gave evasive answers, changed statistics and was seen as having “no sense of decency.” He quickly began to lose his supporters. Joseph McCarthy lost his last bit of support when he went after the U.S. army for being “weak on communists.” In December 1954, the Senate decided to censure, or officially condemn, McCarthy for “conduct unbecoming of a member.” As a result, he lost his power but kept his job. Why were innocent people fired without evidence? THE ARMS RACE Meanwhile, the United States and the Soviet Union took up an arms race. Each side built up its supply of missiles and atomic weapons. By 1953, both nations tested powerful new hydrogen bombs. In 1957, a Soviet rocket launched Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite. This was a terrifying moment for the American people. Why was the launch of Sputnik scary for Americans? THE ARMS RACE CONT… If the soviets were able to launch a satellite into space, there missiles were capable of reaching the U.S. Nikita Kruschev, leader of the Soviet Union after Stalin, boasted they were turning out rockets “like sausages.” Many Americans feared that they were falling behind the Soviets. In fact, the United States was well ahead of the Soviet Union. Between 1958-1960 the number of atomic weapons stockpiled tripled from 6,000-18,000. Billions of dollars were spent on weapons. In response to Sputnik, the U.S. created the National, Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958. Schools also began boosting their science programs. CONFLICTS IN CUBA In 1952, Fulgencio Batista staged a military coup and took power of Cuba, cancelling their elections. He soon proved himself to be a dictator, unconcerned with the issues plaguing the people in Cuba. Cuba experienced high unemployment rates and limited access to clean water. Batista created ties between him and operations of organized crime (making himself loads of $$), as well as, allowing American companies to dominate the economy as well as being anti-communist. What happens in countries were people are suffering, don’t have jobs, access to water, etc.? Why did the U.S. back Batisita? CONFLICTS IN CUBA CONT… In 1959, Fidel Castro led a revolution that set up a socialist state in Cuba. Castro’s government took over private companies, including many owned by American businesses. Castro’s government also tried, exiled and executed many who had connections to Batista’s government. As a result, thousands of Cubans (mostly upper and middle classes) fled to the United States. What do socialism and communism have in common? Why would people support socialism? Why did the U.S. try to have Castro assassinated? BAY OF PIGS INVASION The Soviet Union began supplying the new socialist state with economic aid. In response, President Eisenhower approved of a secret plan to train an army of Cuban exiles to invade Cuba. In 1961, John F. Kennedy became President, inheriting President Eisenhower’s plan. On April 17th, about 1,200 Cuban exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs on the Southern coast of Cuba. However, the attack was planned poorly, people did not join in the revolt, Castro knew about the plan, and President Kennedy had cancelled air support for them. Quickly, Castro’s forces rounded up the invaders. In the end, the Bay of Pigs strengthened support for Castro in Cuba and embarrassed the U.S. CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS After the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Soviet Union decided to give Cuba more weapons. In October of 1962, President Kennedy learned that the Soviets were secretly building missile bases on the island. If the bases were completed, atomic missiles could reach American cities within minutes. One week later, President Kennedy approached the American public on television about the missile sites. He announced the navy would begin a “strict quarantine” of Cuba. American warships would turn back any Soviet ship carrying missiles. Do you think this approach would work? Why? How would you feel if you found out Cuba had missiles pointed at American cities today? CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS CONT… Throughout the week Soviet ships headed toward Cuba. After coming across the blockade of American ships, they turned back. President Kennedy and Khrushchev came to a compromise. Khrushchev agreed to take the missiles out of Cuba. In return, President Kennedy agreed not to invade Cuba and to take missiles out of Turkey. The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world came to nuclear war. Millions were relieved at the avoidance of World War III. STEPS TO AVOID WAR As the conflict eased, the U.S. and the Soviet Union set up a direct telephone link (known as the “hot line”) so the leaders could communicate instantly. Both were taking steps to avoid mutually assured destruction. Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)- when two or more opposing sides face the threat of complete annihilation on both sides if they go to nuclear war. Do you think the “hot line” was a good idea?