How did post-war America change from 1945-1961? What role did McCarthyism and Anti-Communist ideals play?
Post-war is one of the most historical moments in the United States. The period between 1945 and 1961 is known as the post-war era. It was characterized by immense economic growth and overall affluence. The epoch was also a chance for America and its allies to confront the communist societies, especially the Soviet Union that had been created during the Cold War. The article will discuss the changes that took place in America from 1945 to 1961 and the roles played by McCarthyism and Anti-Communism.
Economic prosperity was one of the first shifts that were realized during the post-war period. Americans were now ready to spend their money and gain wealth as most people had now attained the middle-class status. Unlike the war period, employee pay increased significantly, and the workers were presented with fairer working conditions. Workers were now at liberty to own cars, occupy larger houses, and do farming. A substantial increase in the economy during the post-war period was realized, which rose to 3.5%.
Initially, the middle class only belonged to the rich and wealthy. However, the post-war lifted most of the employees in the lower class. The change was attributed to the increase in family income. Industries and factories were used by the lower level to climb up the ladder where they would later start up their own business and generate more revenue. Another useful aspect of this period is that workers could now enjoy more paid leisure time.
In addition to better living standards and increased employment opportunities, the environment became more materialistic. It was a physical environment in that; the middle class could now afford commodities that were initially deemed to be first class.’ The middle class could now own things such as toys, automobiles, refrigerators, and ovens.
Baby Boom
An increase in live births from 222,721 to 339,499 between January and October in 1946 was realized. This is an indication that the post-war was a period of change in all sectors, including health, that led to an increase in live births. Several factors led to the baby boom. For instance, the Great Depression took a toll on the country’s economic system, and as such, it was not possible to raise a child during these hard economic times. Therefore, the post-war age was time for individuals to make up for the lost time, and one way to do this was to start having children.
The optimism that prevailed the environment got people assured that they would not experience problems in raising their children. The economic expansion landed many people in good jobs, which meant that families were now affordable. The veterans who had gone to were also helped to assimilate into society. After the passage of the G.I. Bill of Rights by Congress, the veterans could now start their own families, own properties, and acquire education. People who were born during this period often look to the past with nostalgia because they remember their best childhood moments.
Before McCarthyism became active in 1947, the Taft Hartley Act was passed by the Congress Coalition. The main reason for this move was to design a more lenient way to equalize both management and union rights. The liberals saw it wise to deal with the problem of doing away with communism, and people such as Ronald Reagan and Walter Reuther took up this role. It was during this time that government spies increased, and the first person to be accused was Alger Hiss.
After being sent to prison, anti-communist players attained more power, and by 1950, there was extreme anxiety over communism prompting Joe McCarthy to find out more spies in the government. McCarthy proclaimed that the increase of spies would be detrimental to the country, and as such, he was the only solution to this problem. The Soviet Union and America were enemies, and when it was heard that the first atomic bomb had been exploded by the Soviet Union, fear engulfed America. It did not take long before China became a communist as well, and Americans were now aware that they would always be a threat. McCarthy was given a chance to make a case after being on the headlines and making people believe that he was the savior.
Joe McCarthy was then a senator at Wisconsin, and upon embarking on the role, he used the media and other thoughtless accusations to the opponents. On seeing this, the communists did not delay in counterattacking the senator. However, McCarthy had enough support from the other anti-communists such as the Kennedy family and William F. Buckley and other Irish Catholics. In 1953, McCarthy vehemently accused the Army of being part of the existing communism. According to McCarthy, it was wrong from the Army to allow the existence of the communist dentist in the corps. His accusation, however, was seen as pointless, leading to the public, especially the communists, to criticize his moves.
As McCarthyism gained more prominence, it was lengthened to involve violence and attacks towards any communist member. The main target was Hollywood, where artists were forced to proclaim anticommunism messages. The artists who would not do this had to leave the country or use pseudonyms. McCarthyism was also utilized as an investigation tool in learning institutions. It is believed that the null investigations that McCarthy utilized to dig out the spies in the government made the entire process irrelevant. This is one of the reasons why McCarthyism failed to gain adequate relevance to date.
Challenges from the Post War
It is also important to note that not everyone was privileged during the post-war period. There are many Americans who continued to live in anguish like the African Americans, the Natives, and Hispanics. All through the 1950s, they continued to earn meager pay and worked in harsh conditions. Compared to their white counterparts, minorities who had come from the war had to look for work, and they could hardly secure some. The white veterans who could not secure jobs caused strikes in the country as they demanded the laying off of the minorities so that they could take up the vacancies.
The disparities in economic prosperity were clear indications that the United States had not eliminated the problem of segregation. The other sign of discrimination was the lack of voting rights among minorities. This problem spilled over to the 1950s, where the African Americans were not part of the electorate. The South was chronic, and only a staggering 10% in the Deep South were allowed to vote or seek political positions.
The youth in America who were part of the Army will always remember this period and the sacrifices they made amidst harsh conditions. They faced extreme hunger issues as they were forced to collect scrap and buy food, which was rationed. Many of these soldiers sacrificed their lives, leading to most of them being killed. As a result of this, they are usually considered as the greatest generation in American history.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the period of post-war was characterized by economic affluence. More people came out from the poverty level and could now work and earn a sensible lifestyle. From the discussion above, it is vivid that the post-war era was a period of empowerment where those at the grass-root levels were now awake. To date, this period is often seen as the happier days not only because of the economic prosperity but also the baby boom period. It is also important to note that not everyone was also privileged at this time, and the most disadvantaged were the minorities.
The article has also discussed McCarthyism and anticommunism and its effects on the post-war epoch. McCarthyism instilled fear in the communist society, and it is believed that this was a wise step to get rid of pragmatism, which was deeply embedded in the country. Nevertheless, McCarthyism received little support and recognition to date even though the effects it had documented. Overall, there were significant changes in America from 1945 and 1961. This is why this era is often considered a period of reawakening.