Outside of Our Orbits!

Throughout the Cold War, the U.S. and the Soviet Union continued to push each other towards brinkmanship, particularly with artillery demands in what was called the "Arms Race". Soon, many Americans thought they saw the most of their worries when the U.S. and U.S.S.R. both tested Hydrogen bombs in 1952 and 1953. Yet, the technological advancements have just begun to develop an overwhelming scare.

In 1957, the Soviet Union saw the rise of space power during this time period. Most notably, the Soviets launched Sputnik 1 into the atmosphere above the Earth. While the Americans were stuck on creating inventions for Hydrogen fission and the Hydrogen bomb, the Soviets proceeded greatly. In successfully launching Sputnik 1, the satellite was much larger and heavier than most American scientists previously thought it was. The satellite was big enough that America became completely stunned by the fact. The Soviets could eventually create more satellites to hold ICBM's or Intercontinental Balistic Missiles. In response, the Americans launched a satellite of their own, Explorer I. President Dwight D. Eisenhower also signed off on developing the National Aeronautics and Space Organization or NASA. All of this was to help compete with the Soviets even further and of course the Soviets answered back.

In 1959, the Soviets launched Luna 2 into the atmosphere to attempt to be the first to hit the moon. Although this attempt failed, the Soviet Union in fact were the first to orbit man around Earth. The Americans soon tried to top Yuri Gagarin's attempt before his next mission was to be launched. Then President John F. Kennedy took office and declared that the American Space Organization was to have a man on the moon by the end of the 60's decade. As an effect, the Apollo missions begun a series long attempt to head towards the moon. The most famous is Apollo 13, where the American astronauts had to survive on a broken oxygen tank. Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon calling this extraordinary mission "one small step for man, one giant step for mankind."

As a whole, the Americans "won" the Space Race that all started with the launch of Sputnik in 1957. To make an official agreement, three Americans and a Soviet space vehicle met in orbit to make a final "handshake" to settle U.S. and Soviet tensions in the Cold War.

Decisions, Decisions...

With the election of John F. Kennedy in 1960, the Americans soon gained positive views about America's new leader. Even so, that some Americans believed Kennedy could dwelve into the failed aspects of Dwight D. Eisenhower's Presidency. Coming from a very wealthy family, the Kennedy's redefined popular culture and the way the citizens felt about the reliability of the Government. Today, this is not entirely the case. However, believe it or not, America still had its struggles with its neighboring nations. Only, this go-around would be the most costly decisions for the fate of American lives in American history.

Tracking back to Eisenhower's Presidency, an incident regarding to keep a close eye on Cuba was intact. This incident was called the Bay of Pigs, where the U.S. had close suspicion of dangerous nuclear weapons landing on Cuba. As an effect, an invasion was soon brought to discussion and in 1961, the American troops mixed with Cuban exiles stormed the shores of Cuba to attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro (Cuban Dictator). Cuban exiles were used mainly to persuade the Cuban citizens and even members of the Army to switch sides. Although, the mission unfortunately was a complete disaster when Soviet armies who sent the bombs to Cuba, destroyed the lines of the Americans. At this very moment, U.S. citizens and officials became especially weary on what was the next move for the Soviets and/or Cubans.

The situation annoyed the Americans so much that in the next year (1962), U-2 planes were ordered by the Kennedy Administration to show evidence of shipments of nuclear weapons into Cuba. These planes were ordered to "not get shot down" because the Soviets use of firepower would ultimately cause America to declare war. Besides the federal issues heating up, paranoia struck the lives of the "happy" American people. Soon after the media issued the Governmental situation, children's schools prepped annual bomb drills by hiding under desks. Even the adults would go to Church and pray for their families. Americans during this time acted with great paranoia and had to be on their toes each and every minute.

Tension began to grow, as the U.S. acted with s strong blockade, preventing the ships from entering the coast of Cuba. When these ships failed to cooperate, the Americans fired with great care, although this mostly never happened. Usually, the Soviets turned away, and when there were submarines planning to sneak in, the sub could be identified by two Soviet cargo ships drafting along each side. Finally, President Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev settled the tension when the Soviets expected us to remove our Jupiter missiles from Turkey. With that settlement, the Soviets would remove nuclear weapons from Cuba. Could America be at total world piece after this agreement? Certainly not.

Who's Naming Names?

In 1947, following the second World War, J. Parnell Thomas headed a committee that would begin sniffing out pro-Communist laborers beyond the Government. This committee, the House Committee on Un-American Activities or HUAC, was developed to search for American-Communists before the fighting broke out in Europe. Predominantly, the committee searched through the hearts of America's entertainment, through the film industry.

While coming off a much needed victory in World War II, Hollywood began making Soviet films after the Soviet Union was one of America's allies in the second war. Because the Soviets were a Communist nation during the time, the HUAC reacted uncooperatively with Hollywood and began targeting studios to identify certain "witnesses" to start the naming of names throughout the many creative professionals in Hollywood. A couple of these "witnesses" included Gary Cooper and Ronald Reagan. As an effect, when these witnesses began naming, the committee started a blacklist given to each of the studios in Hollywood. The blacklists would point out numerous writers, directors, and producers to be forced to never return to work with the industry. Considered to be the most famous ten blacklisted creative workers in Hollywood were known as the Hollywood Ten. Among these people included Alvah Bessie, Herbert J. Biberman, Lester Cole, director Edward Dmytryk, Ring Lardner, Jr., John Howard Lawson, Albert Maltz, Samuel Ornitz, Adrian Scott, and Dalton Trumbo. The main goal of these ten workers was to protest and testify the accusations of Communism through Hollywood. However, when none of the blacklists answered the committee's questions, Dmytryk went forth and called out some of his own Hollywood Ten members, explaining that these people "pressured" him to make pro-Communist films. Eventually, each of the ten protesters were added to blacklists created by the studios.

Unfortunately, over 300 writers, actors, producers, and directors were blacklisted in the process. The effects of the Hollywood Ten shedded more light into the eyes of Communism in America and thus almost created a no-need status for the big screen with the later developments of television and radio. Even though the 50's was the start of modern day technology, there were always flaws. Overall, if the Communist takeover succeeded, films like Avatar would have not existed and the culture of American society would have been lost forever.

Communist Disposal

Not only were the Europe fronts creating a tension among many, but the American home front also was under serious influence. Sometimes, taking the situation a little to far over the edge. Joseph Raymond McCarthy was born in Grand Chute, Wisconsin and started his political career as a court judge and in the late 1940's, he served America in the Pacific during World War II as well. Next, he ran to become the U.S. Senator for Wisconsin and eventually won. However, the real stir-up does not really happen until this point.


During the booming culture of the 1950's, McCarthy began to search underneath the surface and into the hearts of America's services. Joseph McCarthy soon began making unreliable accusations of Communism towards the U.S. Army and even the Truman and Eisenhower Administrations. With Dwight D. Eisenhower's crew, McCarthy began making accusations that the Government was filled with Pro-Communist officials in what was known as the Lincoln Day Address. The reason why no one tried to stop McCarthy is basically because of the reason that they would become victims too. In fact, McCarthy was eventually investigated himself when the "Hennings Report" was issued. The committee found that there was odd behavior in his campaigns and tax returns, but the committee never found enough information to consider that McCarthy's intentions were unconstitutional. Eventually, the Government found that he was destroying his power as a Senator after his intentions were discovered. With the effect of Joseph McCarthy on America, the Red Scare of Communism became a more widespread fear.



At this point, America felt as if they were falling into the Communist trap too and all of the hype was boiling down. Although during this time period, the Government also had to keep in mind that McCarthy has been known to suffer from heavy alcohol abuse and perhaps he has just lost his mind. Overall, Joseph McCarthy has only made anti-Communism in the U.S. that much more critical. Moreover, many fellow Americans were forced to take on loyalty issues in order to renew their status as a trustworthy American citizen.

Cold War 2010?

Even through today's society, many believe nations have settled their arguments, while others do not support that fact. I personally believe the Cold War still has a beating heart throughout the world. Starting with the effects from World War II, America has continuing to develop a strong, honest relationship with Russia today. Perhaps, the signing of the START Treaty by President Obama and President Medvedev may have limited the reference back to Communism and preventing a nuclear war. However, whether nations struggle economically during the modern day of 2010, there is more protesting than any of the citizens in the United States are aware of to this day. Because of this, America remains in a silent war among decades.


Just recently, the New York Times released a new controversial groundbreaking story that has been developing over in the Korean nations the past couple days. Choe Sang-Hun reports that there has been a mysterious sinking of a South Korean warship in the waters splitting the two Koreas. North Korea denied accusations that they even attempted to sink the ship and that "They are using the media to attribute it to us"-KCNA (North Korea's state-run news agency). Well, it seems as if we have seen this before in the Cold War. Although North Korea is not yet to blame for this event, the North and South may still have ongoing tensions resulting from the Cold War itself. Could North Korea still be trying to push the South away? Will the mass killings of 38 sailors and 8 others missing lead to an offensive war for the South? Experts say that South Korea will most likely only fire in the country's own defense to start out with.

As we have observed in the Cold War once before, South Korea would be struggling to find enough weapons to try and hold off the North. Therefore, I believe this could possibly lead into America's role in involvement financially or economically, eventually costing taxes to rise even more at home today. If this story finds that North Korea is the cause for the attack, I believe this will most likely be a repeat and continuation of past events during the Cold War. I want to hear your thoughts below. Do you think nations are personally angered internally by the fact that nuclear testing and war was on hold for much of the Cold War, or are nations trying to intimidate and psych each other out and all of this information is false? Personally, I think nations simply don't trust one another entirely and the Cold War effects are still going on today.

The Ice Begins to Melt

As the Soviets continue to roll though the West European nations, Communist ties in China and Korea began to rise. A Civil War in China essentially split the nation into Communism and Nationalism, where leader Mao Zedong favored Communism and Chiang Kai-Shek favored Nationalism. Resulting from World War II, Korea had been occupied in the north by the Soviet Union and in the south by the United States. The Soviets intentions initially were to set up a Communist government in North Korea while expanding to take over the entire Korean landmass. Do achieve this feat, the Soviets tried as much as possible to avoid the United Nations from intervening the war. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea in North Korea soon began developing military strength to prepare for an invasion. This is when the Cold War officially heats up!

By the time North Korea invaded South Korea, the South Koreans held limited military supply and men as well. The United States tried to attempt to help aid with men, but the powerful force of North Korea pushed the army into Seoul, the South Korean capital. To defend a massive slaughtering of thousands of soldiers, General Douglas MacArthur launch a counterattack by bringing in another army behind enemy lines. There was no way out from MacArthur's big plan and the American/South Korean army won. However, General MacArthur got a little big-headed and asked the Truman Administration to completely destroy China. President Truman eventually fired the general because of this. As and effect, Truman hired General Omar Bradley to carry on in China. Finally in 1953, the battling nations settled for stalemate, or an agreement among them. An armistice was signed by the United States, China, and North Korea. Although, South Korea chose not to sign, leaving the nations split into North and South today.

The Korean War is one of the most ignored wars in American history. Even though citizens today dominantly know World War II and the war in Vietnam, the Korean War is the single most bloodiest and brutal battles mostly forgotten. Around 34,000 Americans in three years died, while in Vietnam, it took ten years for 58,000 Americans to lose their lives. This war should be considered the "breaking point" for most nations during the Cold War.

Red, White, and Blue Enters the Cold War

For quite some time up until World War II, the United States of America has been known to shy away from further conflicts outside of its borders. Except, when the United States decided to interrupt wars, most specifically World War I and II, their isolationist theories began to fade away. As the U.S. enters part three, the Cold War, President Harry S. Truman traveled a totally different direction this go-around. Instead of acting more aggressively in World War II, Truman takes a step back in trying to contain the Soviet Union and even ourselves from making permanent damage on the world. For Americans, this war was basically drawn out of a hat so to speak. Military forces in the U.S. came and went off to war, leaving their grieving families behind without any say.

As the war dragged on and on, Communism began to be a totalitarian force in the world, and America itself would start to fall victim. The Truman Administration would soon find out that they need to take further control of the situation. Now is the time because America is starting to turn against each other. A major historical figure in Senator Joseph McCarthy stood as a big threat towards Communism. He created the theory of McCarthyism, which he accused many Americans for Communism. Like in today's society with the War on Terror, many citizens felt the same way about the threat of Communism. Various schools were forced to develop certain drills for an attempted nuclear attack or so forth. To me, this is extremely terrifying considering that today, we almost never practice safety from the mysteries that lurk in the deserts of the Middle East.


During this time period, Americans began industrializing military equipment more than anything, even though America came off one of the most costly wars in history. America held most of the world's wealth during this period and the Truman Administration tried to defend the fact with compromise. Furthermore, America devoted themselves to keep their economic, political, and military values at a constant rate as much as possible to avoid another costly war.