The United States of America in the Cold War

The Cold War holds significant historical importance, as during that time, the world was at risk of destruction. Therefore, it is essential to learn from the historical phenomena of the twentieth century to prevent the world from falling into destruction again. In World War II, about 400,000 American soldiers were killed, which was relatively low compared to the casualties of other countries. By 1945, the United States had become a military and economic superpower, producing 60% of the world's industrial products and holding two-thirds of the world's gold in American banks. At the Bretton Woods Conference, it was decided that the value of other countries' currencies would be determined based on the dollar, which at that time was still tied to the value and amount of gold reserves in American banks. In the early years after World War II, the United States had no economic rivals in the world, although the totalitarian dictatorship of the Soviet Union was considered a serious military competitor. Franklin Roosevelt, the former President of the United States, hoped that after World War II, the United Nations would be able to initiate a global peace process based on the UN Charter and the Charter of Human Rights, especially to prevent the outbreak of new wars. However, the historical truth is that the United Nations could not become an effective organ for resolving ideological and political problems between the two blocs. The problem was not only that the UN lacked the power to implement its policies based on the Charter of Human Rights, but also that national governments were often unwilling to enforce the UN Charter, and the new values of human rights faced cultural and national barriers in many countries of the world. The roots of the Cold War stem from the complex and intricate disputes between the East and West in a bipolar world, which significantly impacted the domestic and foreign policies, as well as the economic and cultural development of Eastern and Western countries. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill referred to the Soviet military and political development model in Eastern Europe as Russia's 'security belt' in 1946. The rulers of the free world were unwilling to allow the totalitarian dictatorship of the Soviet Union to expand its influence to other parts of the world. The United States adopted a 'containment strategy' against Soviet communism as the cornerstone of its foreign policy, which incurred enormous costs. Harry Truman, the President of the United States from 1945 to 1953, was a representative of the Democratic Party, and his primary goal was to establish a social system in America, continuing the reform program initiated by Roosevelt: setting minimum wages, mandatory health insurance, and improving public education. However, this social program failed due to the political climate prevailing in American society at the time, even as the American economy was continuously growing. The prevailing anti-communist propaganda made any necessary social policies impossible. From 1950 to 1960, the gross domestic product of the American economy reached 77%. However, the poor and black segments of society did not benefit from economic growth in the same proportion as the wealthy and faced racial discrimination. The Democratic forces were completely opposed to racist propaganda, remembering that World War II was fought against a racist German dictatorship and being well aware that economic injustice could lead to the emergence of extremist movements. After World War II, the United States accounted for 50% of the world's gross production. Millions of war veterans were legally allowed to study in various colleges. Taxes were reduced, and investment intensified, creating a welfare society. It is clear that this type of capitalist system completely surpassed Russian communism. One of the consequences of Cold War policies within American society was the fear of communism, which led to the policies of Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy, who even labeled a writer like Arthur Miller as a communist. McCarthy's policies prompted Arthur Miller to write a drama about the historical phenomenon of the 'witch hunts.' In the Middle Ages, 40,000 to 60,000 women were burned alive as witches. This phenomenon, however, cannot be compared to the atmosphere of persecution of liberal and left opposition in America at that time. Nevertheless, during this period, many political freedoms were sacrificed for security programs. In the first half of the 1950s, the pursuit of intellectuals in the United States, even those who were not communists, poisoned the domestic political atmosphere. McCarthy's policies were criticized by President Dwight Eisenhower (1953 to 1961). Eisenhower, the first NATO commander in Europe, had become known as an anti-communist politician. This phenomenon shows that the fight against the totalitarian dictatorship of the Soviet Union led to exaggerated domestic policies in America that could endanger democracy in the United States. General Eisenhower, the thirty-fourth President of the United States, managed to keep American domestic policy at a moderate level despite the highly polarized and contradictory political atmosphere. American politicians were influenced by the fear of war against the Nazis on one hand and the phenomenon of communist dictatorships that placed little value on freedom on the other. Eisenhower, who was the commander of Allied forces in North Africa in 1942, sent a telegram from Morocco to his colleagues requesting that eight Coca-Cola factories be exported to North African countries as soon as possible. Eisenhower was a skilled strategist and considered German General Erwin Rommel his main enemy during World War II, ultimately defeating that 'Desert Fox.' After this victory, Eisenhower took command of the invasion of Normandy in 1944. On June 6, 1944, about 150,000 American, British, French, and other soldiers landed from warships and invaded Normandy, defeating the German army. Before the start of this attack, Eisenhower stated that if the result was unsuccessful, he would be solely responsible, although the military success led to his advancement in U.S. government affairs. Subsequently, American and allied military forces and the Soviet Union defeated Germany, but another fear of a new war with communist countries slowed and partially halted the democratization process worldwide. Eisenhower's success in the war against the German Nazis increased his popularity among the American people to such an extent that he was elected President, receiving votes from 35 million Americans in 1952. For example, the fear of communist spies may seem like an emotional reaction. The historical truth was that World War II did not end political propaganda and the spread of totalitarian and violent ideologies. However, this fear turned into hysteria during the McCarthy era, an exciting and uncontrollable emotion promoted by the right wing of the Republican Party. It seemed that the American way of life was in danger, which today may seem exaggerated in the second decade of the twenty-first century, as the pillars and institutions of democracy in America were stronger than to be easily dismantled. In March 1947, the U.S. Congress approved a budget of $400 million solely for the fight against communism in Greece and Turkey, where communist forces were more under Soviet influence and modern democracy had not been institutionalized. In the same month, the President of the United States ordered that over three million federal government employees be monitored, and a thousand were dismissed. Government officials concluded that these individuals were affiliated with 78 organizations that were somehow classified as communist organizations. Perhaps for the first time in the history of modern Western democracies, security weighed more heavily than freedom in government decisions, a problem that is still evident in Western democracies today. In 1952, the McCarran-Walter Act was issued, requiring all communist organizations to disclose their financial status and member lists to the Department of Justice. U.S. government officials could refuse to issue passports to American citizens and prevent certain foreigners from entering the country. Under this emergency law, the Attorney General could even order the detention of suspicious individuals. According to the Taft-Hartley Act, union officials were also prohibited from expressing their communist positions and opinions, if they had any. Even in Hollywood, filmmakers were subjected to political scrutiny, and anyone who spoke of freedom of expression risked arrest. For McCarthy, the value of security matters outweighed freedom. Global events became inseparable from internal political events in the United States: on September 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched four satellites into Earth's orbit, causing the 'Sputnik shock' in the United States. Of course, the Soviet Union had also tested an atomic bomb on August 29, 1949. Subsequently, in a retaliatory move, the U.S. government ordered the establishment of a space program that cost billions of dollars. Research in the military weapons sector became intertwined with research in space programs to this day. With the onset of the space race, military spending also increased. Despite a relatively high level of economic prosperity in the United States, class discrimination and racism remained unresolved issues.