Writing Assignment: Americanism Vs Communism

Writing Assignment Americanism Vs Communism

Writing Assignment – Americanism vs. Communism Directions: Essays should be doubled-spaced, size 12 font, with one-inch margins all around. Essays must be a minimum of 1 page and should be a maximum of 3 pages. All references from the textbook must be cited parenthetically (Shi, pg). All references to primary source videos must be cited parenthetically with an abbreviated title (Regan, Jokes). You may NOT use any outside sources including open source websites. No bibliography is needed for your essays. The required heading is only your name and a page number in the top right hand corner of each page.

Writing Assignment: From the ashes of the Second World War rose two giants to stand guard over a chaotic world rife with violence, poverty, and destruction. Although the United States (US) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) were allies during the war, the ideological and philosophical differences between American Democracy and Soviet Communism drove the superpowers into a "war" for influence and control which lasted much of the latter half of the twentieth century.

While the US and USSR did not openly fight on the battlefield, the fifty years following WWII were filled with small moments (i.e., the 1980 Miracle on Ice) and colossal events (the Vietnam War) in which democracy was pitted against communism. The Cold War, as it is known, affected American society, culture, politics, and economics. From the specter of nuclear war to the fear of subversive activity from within, the Cold War informed the lives of Americans and shaped American society.

This writing assignment will focus on the impact of Cold War tensions on the lives of everyday Americans. The primary sources for this writing assignment are all in the form of videos and include speeches and interviews, political shorts, news stories, songs, and movie trailers which range from the 1950s to the 1990s.

Watch the videos and write a response paper based on the questions below! Question: Watch the various primary source videos and analyze what they reflect about the nature of life in America during the Cold War. For your essay, examine and describe the impact(s) of the struggle between American Democracy and Soviet Communism on the lives of individual Americans and on American society as a whole. Use specific evidence and provide detailed analysis to support your assertions.

Some of the questions to consider when writing your response are: Who was speaking and who was their audience? How did they view America's role in stopping Communism? What sort of changes did they think were necessary to combat the spread of Communism? Why do they believe American Democracy is better than Soviet Communism? What kind of response do they believe is likely from the USSR? Do you see anything that foreshadowed changes or problems in the future of America?

You do not need to answer any or all of these specifically, but they might help give you ideas of what to write. Your response should reference the videos, but not simply describe them to the reader. Your answer should reflect that you examined all of the primary sources provided.

Paper For Above instruction

The Cold War era was a defining period in American history, profoundly shaping societal norms, cultural identity, and political ideology. The primary source videos from this time reveal the pervasive sense of fear, patriotism, and ideological divide that characterized life in America between the 1950s and 1990s. This essay explores how these tensions influenced individuals and society, spotlighting the ways American democracy was defended and projected as superior to Soviet communism, as well as foreshadowing future challenges.

Many speeches and media clips feature prominent political figures articulating the threat posed by communism. For instance, Senator Joseph McCarthy’s fiery speeches targeting supposed communist infiltrators reflect a climate of suspicion and paranoia. His audience, a nation gripped by fears of subversion, largely accepted these sentiments, emphasizing the perceived necessity of rooting out communism from American society. McCarthy’s rhetoric exemplifies how political leaders justified heightened security measures and restrictions on civil liberties under the guise of protecting democracy (Regan, McCarthy Speech).

Similarly, presidential addresses and public service announcements from figures such as President Eisenhower underscored America’s moral and political superiority over Soviet governance. These messages often promoted the idea that American democracy—characterized by freedom, individual rights, and democratic elections—was inherently better suited to foster prosperity and personal freedom than the oppressive, authoritarian nature of communism. Such messaging aimed to bolster national unity and justify American intervention abroad, including in conflicts like Vietnam, as necessary measures against the global spread of communism (Shi, pg).

The media also reveals a societal response emphasizing unity and resilience. Songs and movie trailers from this era often propagated themes of patriotism and a fight to safeguard American values. The "Red Scare" atmosphere intensified fears of communist influence within American institutions, such as government agencies and schools. This led to policies like loyalty oaths and the establishment of agencies like the FBI to surveil suspected subversives (Regan, Jokes). The collective response was driven by the desire to prevent a communist takeover and preserve American democratic ideals.

Analyzing these images and messages indicates a strong belief among American leaders and citizens that American democracy was fundamentally superior to Soviet communism. They believed that economic freedom, political rights, and individual liberty were essential and incompatible with the oppressive nature of communism. Moreover, the images of Soviet missile launches and propaganda implied that the USSR viewed the US as an enemy, anticipating conflict and confrontation. This foreshadowed ongoing tensions, including the arms race and the threat of nuclear war, which challenged America's sense of security and required continuous preparedness.

While American leaders propagated optimism about democracy’s resilience, some sources hint at future difficulties. The escalation of Cold War tensions and the Vietnam War’s division within the US revealed internal struggles over foreign policy and national identity. These issues foreshadowed broader social upheavals, questioning the efficacy or morality of American strategies against communism. Overall, primary sources from this period depict a nation committed to defending democratic ideals, often at the expense of civil liberties and internal cohesion, yet also facing challenges that would reshape its future outlook.

References

• Shi, T. (Year). Title of the textbook. Publisher.
• Regan. (Year). McCarthy speech. [Video].
• Regan. (Year). Jokes. [Video].
• Regan. (Year). Political shorts. [Video].
• Regan. (Year). News stories. [Video].