Today we are going to transition from looking at how the Cold War was affecting all the other parts of the world to looking at how it was affecting our country. Please read the following articles and watch the following clips. When you are done each section, please answer the guiding questions.
McCarthyism and the Red Scare
The "Red Scare" was a time in American history where people were terrified that anyone and everyone around them could be a communist. Please read the following articles to learn how this fear spread throughout the country and was instigated by one specific senator. (If you need to skim some of the articles that is okay too. The main point is that you understand what the Red Scare is all about.)
Guiding Questions: 1. What is the Red Scare and how is McCarthy adding to the tension and blowing it out of proportion. 2. BONUS QUESTION: The Crucible was written during this time. Why do you think the author was inspired to write about the Salem Witch Trials in the middle of the Red Scare?
American Culture During the Cold War
Television was becoming more and more popular during the Cold War and it gave rise to some of the most popular and iconic TV shows of all time. Although these clips don't connect to the Cold War, please watch these clips to get a feel for what the feel of the nation was like at this time.
Guiding Questions: 1. After watching these clips, what are some norms/messages that these TV shows were reinforcing in American society? 2. How would you describe the feel of these videos?
Fear and Opposition to the War Enters Music
As the Cold War continued to get more and more intense, some of the feelings of the public began to seep into some of the music that we listened to. Please listen to some of these songs (you don't have to listen to all of them or to the whole of the songs, just get a feel for what they sound like and what messages they are trying to get across).
Guiding Questions: 1. What messages are these songs trying to get across? 2. How do you feel the style of music that the artists chose adds to this message?