The Culture of the Cold War: History Coursework

Coursework Instructions:

Choose ONE of this week's FIVE questions and respond to all parts of your chosen question (keeping in mind all scoring criteria outlined in the weekly header). Be sure to include citations from our assigned readings AND from one or more academic/academic supplemental sources to provide evidence or support for your assertions. And make sure that you identify your specific question in your Title Area.
1. The Post WW2 “Economic Boom” (1945-1958): In our assigned reading this week, James Patterson outlines EIGHT reasons for America’s post-WW2 economic boom (see pp. 64-81; with subsequent support developed in chapters 9 and 11). A-D. Identify and explain what you consider to be the four most important reasons for America’s economic expansion and prosperity between 1945 and 1958. Justify your selections using facts provided in the textbook and researched via supplementary academic sources. E. In light of this investigation; summarize why Patterson decided to title his book Grand Expectations.
2. Eisenhower’s “Hidden Hand” Presidency (1953-1960): In our assigned reading this week, James Patterson notes (p. 265) that political scientist Fred Greenstein wrote an influential book entitled Hidden-Hand Presidency (first published in 1982) that describes Ike’s leadership style as subtle and deserving more credit than assumed by many contemporary scholars. Explore this assessment by detailing at least one (EACH) of the following incidents/decisions that show Eisenhower’s “behind-the-scenes” approach to resolving a key issue with A) an administration staffer or federal agency; B) dealing with a contentious domestic political issue; and C) dealing with one or more potentially volatile foreign policy decisions/actions. D. Overall, do you find Ike’s presidential leadership style to have been effective, or not? Justify your assessment.
3. The New Look / Massive Retaliation: (1953-1960): A. Define the Eisenhower’s Cold-War strategy called the “New Look.” B. To what extent was this a departure from the Truman approach, especially following adoption of NSC-68 in 1950? C. Did it deliver, as touted at the time: “more bang for the buck” (as cited by Patterson, p. 288)? D. How did the New Look strategy deny American military forces a full-spectrum capability for “flexible” response (as argued by a number of senior military officers and the Democratic opposition)? E. All things considered, in your informed opinion, was “Massive Retaliation” an effective strategy; or not; and why?
4. The CIA’s Ascendency (1953-1960): Given the data and case studies cited by Patterson’s Grand Expectations, summarize the CIA’s role A. in Iran (1951-53); B. Guatemala (1954); C. Managing classified U-2 aircraft surveillance fights over the Soviet Union in the late 1950s and into 1960. D-E. From your research (in the text and via supplemental sources), assess at least one positive and one negative legacy of the CIA's actions during the Eisenhower administration. F. Speculate: Why did the CIA emerge as a major player in promoting American foreign-policy objectives during the Eisenhower administration? [Hint: consider your response to this sub-question in light of strengths and weaknesses of Ike’s "New Look" strategy.]
5. The Impact of Television and America’s “Mass Consumer Culture” (1945-1960): A-C. Research and comment on three ways that television influenced America’s “mass consumer culture” in the 1950s. D-F. Despite America’s unprecedented rise in prosperity during these years (see Patterson, pp. 312-13): outline at least three “negative” elements that critics ascribed to America’s “consumer culture” in the 1950s. G. In terms of total impact, did these critiques detract from the majority of Americans’ positive outlook as of the late 1950s? If so, how? If not, why not?
The guiding questions assist you in focusing on what you are reading in the text, viewing / reading in the lecturettes, or watching in videos. The guiding questions relate to the weekly content objectives.
How did decolonization connect with the Cold War?
Were the 1950s America's "Happy Days"? Discuss conformist and non-conformitist elements of society in your response.
Which groups benefited from the economic prosperity of the 1950s and why? Which groups were left out?
Explain the causes and consequences of suburbanization and the growth of the Sunbelt during the 1950s?

Coursework Sample Content Preview:

The Culture of the Cold War
Name
Course
Professor's name
Date
QUESTION
THE CIA's ASCENDANCY (1953-1960)
A. In Iran (1951-53)
In 1953, the Central Intelligence Agency led a coup against the prime minister of Iran. This was due to the enmity which emerged from leaders of the British due to the interests of oil in 1951. the coup didn't last long since it was replaced with Mossadegh, who made an agreement that the British and Americans will take 40% of the Iranian oil each.
B. Guatemala (1954)
One year later 1954, the CIA helped the rebels to overthrow the leader of the country, who was legally elected Colonel Jacob. The reason for overthrowing him was that he promoted the expropriation of the land, which was part of the American acreage used by the Fruit Company. This showed the interest of the coup is as a tool for economic interest. The CIA hence made its pilots bomb the raids who helped the coup emerge winners. The act by the CIA was secret, which was not recognized by the American press until 1950 where the reconnaissance plane, which was controlled by the CIA, was brought down, which made the reporters no longer trust the government. The Americans also realized that the CIA involvement acted like a means to violate sovereign rights. This weakened the CIA trust and made the American Foster Dulles to be challenged and went to both Radio and Television stations saying that the American people have now faced a new glorious moment after the Guatemala coup. Withing Eisenhower territory, the coups resulted in the emergence of the cold areas, a powerful means where top officials complained of communists being the resource behind for Mossadegh and Arbenz involvement, which was not true. This led to the Eisenhower administration had a split over the blacks and the whites, which generated the aspect of nationalism and anti-nationalism. However, Americans want ahead to demonstrate this misunderstanding.
C. Managing Classified U-2 Aircraft Surveillance Flights Over the Soviet Union in the late 1950s and into 1960.
After the pronouncement of the massive retaliation in 1954, the Eisenhower administration said there was a need to improve the security since the troops dispatched to Korea and the Berlin Airlift were not enough; instead, they had to rely mostly on the" massive retaliatory power". This was to use more avoidable security, which was cost-effective such as the nuclear weapon; this was experiences by Dells when a nuclear weapon was used to heel Chinese in Korea. This system was done through the Strategic Air Command (SAC), which letter was replaced by a propelling jet. These weapons were used to fight the Soviets. The fights were majorly on air, and it was the use of atomic weapons. This method used by Eisenhower was because the soviet ground fights were more sec...

Updated on January 26, 2024

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The Culture of the Cold War: History Coursework

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