MAD+and+the+development+and+impact+of+the+Cold+War

__**//To what extent was mutually assured destruction significant in the development and impact of the cold war in the United States at a social and cultural level.//**__

In January 1954 Dulles explained massive retaliation to the American people: “Local military defenses, must be reinforced by the further deterrent of massive retaliatory power…The way to deter aggression is for the free community to be willing and able to respond vigorously at places and with means of its own choosing.” · Start of the nuclear race Between the Soviet Union and the United States, backed by fear of conflicting ideologies. · Western Intelligence in 1949 predicted 1953 as earliest date for the Soviets to conceive a bomb. · In 1945 the United States estimated it would take Stalin at least 5 years to develop a bomb because it took the American’s 3 years. · Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ended most speculation as to the couple’s guilt or innocence when he revealed, “I heard from both Stalin and Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov that the Rosenbergs provided very significant help in accelerating the production of our atomic bomb.” ***Quoted in Parrish//, The Cold War Encyclopedia//, p. 273** · The U.S. arsenal of bombers capable of delivering nuclear bombs on targets in the Soviet Union included the consolidated B-36 and the Boeing B-52 in 1946. Start of the bomber race · Soviets airlifted the comb to its target and exploded it at an altitude of several thousand feet, indicating the use of a bomber during the operation. · Became a great concern for the United States due to the Soviets jump in technology, surpassing that of the United States. More importantly recognized that the Soviets developed a rocket that could boost a satellite into orbit could also carry nuclear warheads to U.S. cities. Start of the Rocket race. · The Cuban missile crisis was the climax of the contention and rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union where the two super powers were on the edge of nuclear war as the notion of mutually assured destruction was embodied in the form of ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles) which posed a threat to both countries, to make matters worse miscommunication and political tension was heightened within each country and between the two superpowers. McCarthyism: Was vociferous campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. government and other institutions carried out under Senator Joseph McCarthy in the period 1950-1954 Effects of McCarthyism: Julius and Ethel were put to death and had a controversial trial, questioning the extension of power given to executive and judicial branches of the U.S. government considering no direct testimony or evidence was brought forth from the Rosenbergs, only second hand testimony’s were made. Other economic and political effects included industries blacklisting individuals particularly those in the entertainment industry, political purging of the communist party and other alleged communist politicians, roughly 10000 jobs were lost, foreign born suspects were deported and roughly 150 people were sent to 1-2 years in prison. Extension of Executive power: The role of the executive branch took on a greater importance during the cold war particularly during the development of nuclear weapons and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The presidency of the United States during these times enforced the role of the president being the Commander and Chief of the United States military. Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower took a more active role in the development, production and deployment of the atomic and hydrogen bombs while John F. Kennedy directly commanded the military action taken during the Cuban missile Crisis, giving direct orders to military personnel for the duration of the crisis, minimizing control Generals had of their military forces. Domestic impacts: The Domestic life of the American was impacted as the country became increasingly aware of the threat of nuclear war. The government set up civil defense programs to make people aware of a nuclear strike on the U.S. and to any extent prepared. Pop culture and religion also distinctly altered and evolved as American propaganda and perspective about the Soviet Union, conflicting ideologies and the cold war made its way into television, music, and religious teachings. Some examples are: · Television shows for children- indirectly addressed the cold war incorporating themes and images of strong, smart heroes embellishing the American flag who fought malicious enemies who threaten world safety and peace. These perceptions paralleled the American’s view of themselves and the view they had of the USSR. Examples of television shows included Wonder Woman, The Adventures Of Superman, Buck Rogers and The Bionic Woman. · Music- Many eastern artists fled to the United States because genres such as rock and roll, folk music and jazz were not permissible in the Soviet Union. During the 1960’s folk singers began to address the Cold War advocating for peace, civil rights movements, and sang out against U.S. militarism, nuclear weapons, government suppression and dissent and the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. · Religious television programming- Television sensations such as Bishop Fulton Sheen (Life is Worth Living- ABC 1952-57) and Reverend Billy Graham (Hour of Decision-ABC 1951-54) were two notable individuals who hosted shows on ABC during the 1950s which carried strong anti-communist messages in response to the Marxist (or Atheistic) ideological backing of the Soviet Union and China.
 * __Mutually Assured Destruction__** -Was the policy during the cold war that the effective use of nuclear weapons by an attacker would result in the retaliatory effort of an attacked country with equal or greater force. Essentially MAD was a strategic policy, which ensured the destruction of both sides of a conflict by placing and deploying nuclear weapons to attack and counter-attack an enemy, resulting in the destruction of both sides. This caused deterrence towards using nuclear weapons during the cold war as the effects of using such weapons would be devastating for a country deploying them. Therefore to keep the possibility of a nuclear war to a minimum and to address the concerns of the Soviet’s growing military strength, President Eisenhower and Secretary of State Dulles developed a strategy of ‘massive retaliation’ that was an example of MAD and also contributed to the continuation of the Arms Race. Eisenhower thought that if he could build up a strong defence and retaliatory force that would deter the Soviets from attacking the U.S. first.
 * __Arms race Timeline:__**
 * -August 6 1945:** First atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States.
 * -August 29 1949:** Soviet Union detonates its first nuclear device “First Lightning”
 * -November 1 1952:** U.S. Scientists conduct the first successful test of a hydrogen bomb at Enewetak Atoll in the western Pacific Ocean.
 * - June 19 1953:** Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of espionage for the Soviet Union in a controversial trial and were executed.
 * -1954:** United States tested an H-bomb that could be delivered by long-range aircraft.
 * -May 1 1955:** During their May Day air show, the Soviets prototype aircrafts of a long-range bomber, the heavy turbo prop Bear, Tupilev Tu-95
 * -November 9 1955:** Soviets detonate their first hydrogen bomb.
 * -October 4 1957**: Soviets launch Sputnik I, world’s first artificial satellite
 * -October 14-Novmeber 7 1962**: The Cuban Missile Crisis
 * __Social Impacts:__**
 * __Cultural Impacts:__**

The United States promoted civil defense during the 1950’s when the threat of a Soviet attack became a reality with the Soviets conceiving their own nuclear weapons and means of delivering the payload to the United States. The Federal Civil Defense Administration created educational videos such as “Duck and Cover” which showed civilians the steps they should take to prepare for nuclear war. [] Implementing the use of bomb shelters, air raid sirens and duck and cover tactics were used to effectively save as many lives as possible from a nuclear blast. (Except for duck and cover because that just gave people false hope. =P)
 * Civil Defense:**

Daniela Pico and Beauman Duncan

Book Sources - Burgan, Michael. "From Nuclear to Thermonuclear." //Cold War: The Threats//. Austin: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers, 2001. 17-25. Print. -Rice, Earle. "The Arms Race." //The Cold War: Collapse of Communism (Historys Great Defeats)//. Farmington Hills, MI: Lucent Books, 2000. 28-43. Print. - Schwartz, Richard Alan. //Cold War Culture: Media and the Arts, 1945-1990//. 1st Pbk ed. New York,NY: Checkmark Books, 1998. Print. -Schrecker, Ellen W.. //Age of McCarthyism: A Brief History With Documents//. 2 ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2001. Print. -Reed, Thomas. //At the Abyss: An Insider's History of the Cold War//. New York: Presidio Press, 2005. Print.
 * __Bibliography:__**