Question

Describe the ways the United States adapted to change and the expectations that came with being a superpower during the Cold War. What was the biggest challenge that the United States had to overcome with the rising pressure of Communism, & how did the changing national interests impact American perspectives on society?

Answer 1

1.The different stages of America’s adaptation can be listed as under:

1. Containment of Russian expansive tendencies – It took it upon itself to support free peoples anywhere in the world who were resisting subjugation by outside pressures. For nearly four decades, it is this philosophy that determined its foreign policy.

2. American officials encouraged the development of Atomic weapons. The reality of the arms race hit the ordinary people even as people built bomb shelters. Drills were common in public places and schools and movies were made that brought home the reality of a threat.

3. The competition with the Soviet was in the arena of Space too as the two blocks of power raced to explore. Although the Soviets were ahead, America caught up soon.

4. America intervened militarily in Korea and Vietnam to keep the Soviet in check.

5. The NATO and the US allowed Germany(the villain of the WWII to remilitarize)

6. President Nixon changed the course when he began to implement diplomatic measures instead of military ones.

2. What was the biggest challenge that the United States had to overcome with the rising pressure of Communism, & how did the changing national interests impact American perspectives on society?

As a philosophy Communism had influenced many American too. This was a very big challenge faced by a democratic America because it threatened its cohesiveness as a country. America responded by trampling down on espionage activities. Citizens were made to swear on oath that they were not communists. HUAC(House Committee for Un-American Activities), an organization was active in investigating subversive activities of individuals and organizations, blacklisted professionals destroying many careers in the process.