Essay On The Red Scare

An era of fear and uncertainty followed the end of the Second World War. Focused on the threat and danger of the Soviet Unions’ nuclear capabilities and the spread of communism, the American people watched, uncertain if the U.S. would be covered by nuclear fallout the next day or if the Capitalist Market would fall into the hands of Communism. Despite the attempts of the Eisenhower administration to alleviate the fears of a communist takeover, by promoting investment and strengthening the nation’s defense system and education, fears of the nuclear armaments race and the "Red Scare", permeated throughout the veins of American Society.

Although the nuclear bomb put an end to World War II, it brought forth a new age of high tension and rivalry,

The McCarthy Era, a name given to the time period were Senator McCarthy set off an era of paranoia and accusations, was a time period full of fears that the threat of communism was not from the presence of the Soviet Union, but from communists living within the United States. Many individuals during this time period were deported, despite being legal citizens, and socially shunned for suspicion of being affiliated with communists. Alger Hiss was a notable figure, during this time period that was accused of being a Soviet spy and was later convicted of perjury. This fear of communists was not fed by McCarthy alone, John Foster Dulles presented ideas of the dangers of Communism, as stated, “If world communism captures any American State, however small, a new and perilous front is established which will increase the danger to the entire free world and require even greater sacrifices from the American people.” (Doc. B). President Eisenhower, however, attempted to settle these fears, by claiming that there is too much hysteria surrounding communism (Doc. A). President Eisenhower attempted to reassure the American people that the U.S. is perfectly capable of protecting its self against