Domestic Cold War Propaganda in the United States (Research Paper Sample)

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Domestic Cold War Propaganda in the United States
Introduction
The emergence of the United States and USSR as the global superpowers was significant to the birth of the Cold War. The two nations’ superpowers had embraced differing ideological beliefs which characterized a conflict of interests between the nations of the Eastern and the Western Europe. The era of the cold war created a series of escalating tensions between the Eastern and the Western block of Europe which controlled the international arena in the outcome of the Second World War. Furthermore, the war was Cold precisely because there was no absolute or adequate confrontation between the participating nations, such as America. The 1950s experienced influence of the war to the American people during Truman’s political era. It was characterised by sharp political and ideological differences that threatened global peace (Grant 311).
The American administration was emphasizing on the need for adopting, and preserving the idea of capitalism at the expense of communism. The American government considered capitalism as the essential means towards the country’s economic growth and development. It was perceived as the system of production that was based on private ownership of wealth, free trade, and minimal industrial activities of the organizations. The rival of capitalism was the Eastern communism that advocated for a classless society. Because of this, the administration of the US implemented significant numbers of propaganda to fight and eradicate the increasing communist ideologies. The government realized the need for using information, political ideas, and fabrications as a means of influencing the opinions of the public. The use of propaganda became an effective approach in battling the rising ideas of communism (Grant 316). Additionally, media firms also followed this trend with the support of the government to influence the public in saying no to communism. This essay will identify and explain the domestic cold war propaganda in America which was crucial in maintaining country’s capitalism and battling communism.
America strengthened its propaganda program via building up the campaign of truth to promote truth about the enemies’ on communism. 1950s witnesses are Truman reinforcing government’s program of propaganda, such as the Campaign of Truth to create awareness about the hidden truth about communism ideologies (Belmonte 246). He delivered a statement to the American Society of Newspaper Editors in legitimizing the government’s aim of enhancing its propaganda program. Truman considered that communism had ulterior motives that were supposed to be revealed to the public, and the entire western European nations. This will prevent these nations from experiencing economic downfall that may negatively influence its development and its future growth. He observed that communism created a strategic point where workers unite and rebel against ownership so that they share ownership and profits. For this reason, the government invested sufficient budget for information activities for the propaganda program to be successful. The government’s financial plan increased from approximately $ 20 million in 1948 to 115 million dollars in 1952 (Belmonte 257). The increase in the government’s budget was facilitated by the uprising of the Korean War that occurred in a few weeks after Truman’s statement. The campaign brought a significant advancement in the approach and the delivery of the U.S propaganda content. It was demonstrated by increasing number of cartoons illustrating the blood thirsty socialism, outstanding commentary on communism against the government, and the government’s articles showing the negative repercussions of the classless society.
The establishment of a Psychological Strategy Board to control the government’s mental attempt on the issues of communism was another decisive propaganda. Truman established the board at the beginning of April 1951 as an integrating body for carrying out non-military operations of the cold war, such as undercover operations (Scott-Smith and Krabbendam 412) . The main role of the board was managing programs for fraudulent warfare in relation to communism ideologies, and controlling its scope of propaganda against the Soviet states. Additionally, the board intensified its mental ideological plans for an increasing number of nations in Western Europe and some regions in Asia. Many nations from the Western Europe were influenced by the ideological plans that were devised by Truman’s administration, including Germany, and China.
The control of the propaganda operations by the central intelligence agency in Western Europe was another noteworthy practice against communism. The intelligence agency organized operations massive propaganda operations in nations that were in support on communism, and those that were neutral. The main objective of the agency was to secretly influence the neighbouring countries to denounce communism, develop the spirit of democracy and embrace the capitalist system. The agency funded sizable number of non-communist labour unions, political parties such as the Labour union with an aim of condemning communism. Additionally, the agency as also secretly involved in the creation on Hollywood cinemas whose themes brought out the support of capitalism. Those Hollywood cinemas that were influencing the ideas of communism were restricted and condemned. The era of 1967, witnessed the agency managing a number of covert operations programs, including the Congress for Cultural Freedom (Bernhard 368).
The Congress for Cultural Freedom was in favour of the international activities that were against the communist ideologies. It printed and circulated a number of magazines to expose the hidden characteristics of communism, and in place...