Cold War DBQ

The aftermath of World War II marked the beginning of a new era in global politics - the Cold War. Following USSR expansion, tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union had risen, with both sides seeking to expand their spheres of influence and prestige. The Cold War was fought primarily through proxy wars, and the rivalry between the two superpowers was characterized by an intense nuclear arms race, a space race, and a struggle over political ideology. In the United States, fears about the spread of communism triggered a policy of diplomatic containment. However, as China fell to communism and the Korean War broke out, diplomatic strategies shifted to military strategies. The fears of the American people escalated as well, leading

In a press conference in March 1954, Dwight Eisenhower acknowledged the abundance of fears and noted that they impacted people's behavior in a hysterical manner. He said, "We fear the men in the Kremlin, we fear what they will do to our friends around them; we are fearing what unwise investigators will do to us here at home" (Document A). Eisenhower's statement highlights the concern that the American people had regarding Soviet expansionism and the potential for communist infiltration in the United States. John Foster Dulles, Secretary of State, echoed these sentiments in June 1954, stressing that the capture of any American state by communism, no matter how small, would pose a significant threat to the entire free world. Dulles argued that the situation in Guatemala was a case in point, and the American States could not ignore it. He also referenced the Tenth Inter-American Conference's statement, which warned that the political control of any American state by the international Communist movement would endanger the sovereignty and political independence of the American States, and threaten peace in the region; this was a pervasive and persistent concern during the Cold War era (Document B). Overall, the American people's fears were shaped by concerns about communism, Soviet expansionism, and

In a special message to Congress on Education in January 1958, Eisenhower recognized the national security interest in the quality and scope of the educational system in the years ahead and recommended certain emergency federal actions to encourage and assist greater effort in specific areas of national concern (Document G). By doing so, he reassured the American people that the government was taking concrete steps to ensure the country's future progress and maintain its position of leadership. Eisenhower's emphasis on education in science and engineering reflected the growing importance of these fields in the Cold War competition with the Soviet Union. This message had a positive impact on the American people, as they saw the government taking proactive steps to address the challenges of the Cold War and to ensure that their children were prepared to contribute to the country's future progress. Additionally, Eisenhower's administration increased total government spending during his presidency. Defense spending was also significantly increased, as the United States faced growing threats from the Soviet Union (Document H). However, despite these increases in payments, the Eisenhower administration managed to maintain a surplus in the federal budget for most of his presidency. Eisenhower's