The Red Nightmare documentary

1. In the beginning of the film, it appears to be an ordinary American small town, but where is it? (Between 1:00 and 2:30).        
It is deep within the Soviet Union. 

2. What is the father's (Jerry) attitude toward his responsibilities, such as attending a Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTA) and going to Army Reserve training (6:20)?      
He ignores his responsibilities and skips out on the PTA meeting as well as the Army Reserve training. He says he'd rather watch TV and enjoy dinner. He has a very careless attitude toward his responsibilities, basically. 

3. According to the film, if all people had the attitude that Jerry has, what is the Red Nightmare? (To answer this question, what does Jerry witness or experience in a Communist America at the: 

• Town Square
• His Daughter's depature (note the soldier is her boyfriend, Bill)
• the PTA
• His job
• His younger children's' education    
• and at the church     

The Red Nightmare is: not being able to access the freedoms America allows due to the oppression of Communism, it's the "nightmare" of communism invading America. In the town square, Jerry witnesses Soviets reveling in the idea of overrunning capitalism and of spreading communism into America, they encourage the people to keep up the good work of going against capitalism. When his daughter leaves, Jerry discovers that the soldiers don't need a warrant to come into his household fully armed and take his daughter away. He also finds that it is mandatory for him to participate in the PTA meeting, or else he will face repercussions. He learns that his job now has a quota, and he must get a certain amount of work done per day. His children have decided themselves to be sent off to a state school because home life was giving them a bad influence. Lastly, he finds that the church, a place of worship, has been filled with apparent Soviet inventions instead of religious items, and the inventions are actually or U.S. origin. All these things that Jerry experiences are part of the so called Red Nightmare.

4. What is Jerry's experience like at trial?    
At the trial Jerry finds that he's barely able to defend himself, and he automatically is accused of crimes that aren't even completely explained to him. In addition, the state accuses him of being guilty without any proof, which they apparently do not need to sentence somebody. Signatures on witness account papers are enough to convict Jerry of being guilty, and he is sentenced to be killed for going against the state. 

5. Consider this film in the context of the Red Square Era. If you were a high school student 50 years ago, how would you have reacted to this film in a history class?

If I were a high school student 50 years ago, in the midst of all the hype about communism in America, I probably would've become worried and scared of a communist takeover after watching this film in a history class. I think I'd be taken aback by the horrors of communism, since I'm assuming I'd probably believe this video wasn't exaggerated. This video would've made me dislike and fear communism, and would've caused me to appreciate American freedom even more. 
  

The Race to Control Space

“We have vowed that we shall see space filled not with weapons of mass destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding"
-President Kennedy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, September 12, 1962

President Kennedy was eager for the United  States to lead the way in exploring space.  The Soviet Union was ahead of the United States, having launched the first satellite Sputnik in 1957 and the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin to orbit around the earth in 1961.

President Kennedy said, “No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space.” In 1961 Kennedy asked Congress to approve more than twenty two billion dollars for Project Apollo, which had the goal of landing an American man on the moon before the end of the decade.

First, go to this website at the JFK Museum. Read the introduction and the JFK and Space material. 


Read the telegram and the two memos and answer the SIX questions that follow:

Telegram A.
On April 12, 1961 cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin from the Soviet Union orbited around the 
earth in 108 minutes. The same day President Kennedy wrote a telegram to Premier Nikita 
Khrushchev congratulating the Soviets on the first successful manned flight.

Memo B.
A few days later President Kennedy wrote a memo on April 20, 1961 to Vice President 
Lyndon B. Johnson, who was the chairman of the Space Council.

Memo C.
Eight days later, Vice President Johnson responded to President Kennedy’s memo.


1. In the telegram to Premier Nikita Khrushchev, how does President Kennedy say he would like the United States and the Soviet Union to work on exploring outer space?      
President Kennedy says that he wants the United States and the Soviet Union to "work together to obtain the greatest benefit to mankind" "in the continuing quest for knowledge of outer space".

2. In the memo to Vice President Lyndon Johnson, what is President Kennedy's main objective?        
President Kennedy's main objective in the memo to Vice President Lyndon Johnson is to find out how the space program in the U.S. can become more efficient in able to surpass the Soviets with its feats. 

3. What is the main difference between what President Kennedy says in the telegram and what he says in the memo in terms of how the Americans and the Soviets should explore
outer space?        
The main difference between what President Kennedy says in the telegram and what he says in the memo in terms of how the Americans and the Soviets should explore outer space is that in the telegram Kennedy says he wants the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. to work together to learn more about space, while in the memo Kennedy asks about if the U.S. can beat the Soviets by putting a laboratory in space, a man on the moon, a trip around the moon, etc.


4. Why do you think President Kennedy appears to be giving two conflicting statements?      
I think President Kennedy appears to be giving two conflicting statements because in the telegram he's talking to the Soviet leader who he doesn't want to offend, therefore he worded it in such a way that the U.S. maintained some dignity and he made it seem as if he hoped for friendly cooperation between the two countries during their explorations in space, while in the memo he was more honest since it was directed towards the vice president, and he was more blunt because he was eager to know how the U.S. could get the upper hand on the Soviets in this "space race".

5. How does Vice President Johnson connect the space race with the Cold War in his April 28th memo to President Kennedy?       
Vice President Johnson connects the space race with the Cold War in his April 28th memo to President Kennedy by summing up the tensions between the two powers, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.; showing each nation's desire for world leadership. He states that the Soviets are closer to world leadership because they have had more space accomplishments, therefore other nations view them as more capable of such leadership. He also consistently says that the U.S. needs to do more to catch up and to gain that world leadership position that they desire. 


6. What are Vice President Johnson’s suggestions for the President?      

Vice President Johnson's suggestions for the President are: fund the space programs with an estimated $500 million, make wise choices and have more concentrated efforts, more resources need to be given to the space programs, and the public should be told of the United States' stance in the space race.

NSC-68 and the Arms Race

1. Study Source 7. According to this source, how serious was the Soviet nuclear threat?      
According to Source 7, the Soviet nuclear threat was quite large and impending. This source made it seem as if the U.S., in its current state of arms, would be unable to defend against a very probably atomic bombing by the Soviets.


2. What measures is Source 7 calling for?     
Source 7 is calling for an increase in the production of atomic bombs, air defenses, air warning systems, and a civilian defense program along with a military defense program.


3. How would you describe the tone of Source 7? Use examples of words and phrases in the text to support your answer.     
The tone of Source 7 is particularly urgent and serious. For example, "...the possibility of a decisive initial attack cannot be excluded." This quote carries with it a warning to the U.S. that they must prepare for a nuclear attack from the Soviets. "Serious blow" and "seriously hamper the ability of the United States" are other examples of phrases in Source 7 where urgency can be detected, as well as seriousness in the matter. This document was basically meant to sternly persuade the U.S. government 

to make significant defensive preparations 

with its urgent and serious tone.

4. Study Source 8. What criticisms are made of Source 7?    
Source 8 claims criticizes that Source 7 is exaggerated in order to manipulate the "mind of the government." This source also claims that Source 7 was successful in this endeavor because Truman tripled the defense budget and significantly increased atomic bomb production.


5. Do you think the author of Source 7 wanted to increase tension and the risk of war? If not, what were his motives?     
I think the author of Source 7 wanted to create more tension against the Soviets so that the U.S. would take the means necessary to defend itself against a Soviet attack. I don't think the author necessarily wanted to increase the risk of war though, it seemed to be more of a way to influence the government so that more defensive measures would be taken.

6. Do the criticisms in Source 8 mean that Source 7 is not a useful historical source? Explain your answer.

No, the criticisms in Source 8 don't mean that Source 7 is not a useful historical source. This is because while Source 7 is exaggerated and not entirely accurate from an objective standpoint, it still shows how the United States reacted to the advancement of the Soviet Union, and provides as a good explanation for historians as to why the United States did what it did in response to the Soviets joining the nuclear power race.

The Formation of NATO

1. Look at Source 2. What did NATO members agree to do?    
NATO members agreed to resist attack as best they could individually, but also if one of them was attacked, all would come to his aid.


2. The members of NATO argued that this was a defensive alliance. Explain why Stalin was not convinced about this.    
Stalin was not convinced that it was a defensive alliance because it appeared to him as if those countries were teaming up on him in a way, and he hadn't make any pact like that yet since the Warsaw Pact was formed after the creation of NATO.


3. Study the cartoon in Source 4. Does the cartoon give the impression that Stalin feels threatened by NATO?     
Yes, because he is greatly outnumbered by NATO who have already played their card,the Atlantic Pact, and they seem to be awaiting his response so that they can respond to it however they see fit.


4. Explain how Sources 4 and 5 present NATO in different ways.   
Source 4 presents NATO as having the upper hand while kind of driving Stalin to make his move, while Source 5 presents NATO as this ragged dog that's trying to attack the "German Democratic Republic." Basically, Source 4 makes NATO seem more powerful and sophisticated while Source 5 makes NATO seem savage and not as big of a threat.


5. Now explain why they present NATO in different ways.     

These two sources present NATO in different ways because Source 5 was created by a Soviet artist, and Source 4 wasn't. Therefore, the artist of Source 5 would obviously have had dislike towards NATO and would've wanted to paint them in a bad light, while the artist of Source 4 wouldn't have the desire to do so since they weren't a Soviet who had that bias. 

Berlin Blockade Document Analysis

Document Analysis

1. What type of document is this? What is its purpose?      
This document is a memorandum, or a written message. It's purpose is to inform the President of Soviet activity. 
2. When was it written? Why is that significant?     
 It was written June 30, 1948. This is significant because it was in the midst of the Cold War, where there were extremely high tensions between Truman and the USSR. 



3. Who created the document? Who received the document?     

 The director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), R. H. Hillenkoetter, created the document. President Truman received the document. 



4. Who is Marshal Sokolovsky?     

 Marshal Sokolovsky was the head of the Russian officials in the meeting between them and German members of the German industrial committee which took place in Karlshorst on June 28, 1948.



5. How did the CIA get information of the meeting between Marshal Sokolovsky and German members of the German industrial committee?      

 The CIA got information of the meeting between Marshal Sokolovsky and the German members of the German industrial committee from a spy that they put in Berlin.

  
6. What were the three Soviet alternatives as they presented themselves when this document was written? What policy did the Soviets pursue over the course of the next nine months? Why?   

The three soviet alternatives as they presented themselves when this document was written were: start a war, lift the travel restrictions at Berlin, and leave all of Berlin to the West, giving them the rail  line. The policy that the Soviets pursued over the course of the next nine months was to maintain the blockade because they didn't want to lose face by lifting the blockade, they weren't able to sustain another war, and because they didn't want to just give Berlin to the West.

Homework


7. Stalin stated in a speech on February 9, 1946, "he [Stalin] blamed the last war on 'capitalist monopolies' and warning that, since the same forces still operated, the USSR must treble the basic materials of national defense such as iron and steel, double coal and oil production, and to delay the manufacture of consumer goods until rearmament was complete." Who are the "capitalist monopolies?" How does this statement enlighten the Soviet viewpoint against the United States? Were the Allies justified in canceling the shipments of German reparations to the Soviets at the end of World War II? Why did the Soviets rely so heavily on Germany for food and industry?        

The "capitalist monopolies" are France, Britain, and the U.S. This statement enlightens the Soviet viewpoint against the United States because it shows that that the Soviets viewed the United States as almost tyrannical capitalists that were just in it for the money. Yes, the Allies were justified in canceling the shipments of German reparations to the Soviets at the end of World War II because they didn't want to repeat the Treaty of Versailles, which didn't work the first time. The Soviets relied so heavily on German for food and industry because Russia was having heavy droughts, and they were dependent on German supplies during that time of year.

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift

1. What is Source 37 (p. 75) saying about Josip Tito, leader of Yugoslavia?     
Source 37 is saying that Josip Tito was being sneaky and financially mooching off the U.S. and thus betraying the Communist part that had been set up by Stalin in eastern Europe.

2. Why do you think Stalin was so hostile to Tito?        
I think Stalin was so hostile towards Tito because he was the source of  the only internal resistance Stalin faced in eastern Europe, aside from the allies in Berlin. Tito resisted Stalin's domination in Yugoslavia his whole life.

3. Look back at the map in Source 27 on page 71. How does the geographical position of Yugoslavia help to explain why Stalin did not take any direct action (such as sending in troops) against Tito?     
The geographical position of Yugoslavia helps to explain why Stalin did not take any direct action (such as sending in troops) against Tito because it was on the border of the "iron curtain," meaning it was closer to western Europe which was under the control of Britain, France, and the U.S. If Stalin sent in troops there, the Allies might've mistaken it for a preparation for war, and helped support Tito in Yugoslavia, as well as attack back. 

4. Read Source 40 (p. 77). What reasons did the Soviet Union give for cutting off West Berlin?       
The reasons the Soviet Union gave for cutting off West Berlin were technical difficulties and shortage of coal.
5. Why do you think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons?           
I think the U.S.A. did not believe these were genuine reasons because the Soviets wouldn't allow in any goods from the USA at all, and hostilities between the Soviets and the U.S. had been getting worse, as they obviously wanted Berlin to themselves.

6. How do Sources 41–43 differ in their interpretation of the blockade?            
Source 41 makes it seem as if the blockade was pointless in regards to the gains of the U.S and the USSR, while Source 42 expresses the idea that the blockade allowed for a demonstration of loyalty by the U.S. towards the people of Europe, and Source 43 basically says that there were high tensions and lots of anti-Soviet feelings going around in the U.S., thus they were on the brink of war, while the people in Berlin were being quite negatively affected by the blockade itself. Source 43 also makes it seem as if the USSR conducted itself in such a way that prevented war.

7.  Which do you think is the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade?       
I'd say source 42, as it explains what the U.S. really achieved during the blockade.

8.  Which source do you think gives the most reliable view of the blockade?      

Source 41, as it is the most objective out of the three sources, considering Source 42 is a speech by Truman, and Source 43 is a commentary from a Soviet.

Iron Curtain Separates Europe

1. What is your overall impression of Source 26 (p. 70) and use extracts from the source to support your view. (No fence sitting; you must choose one but not both)      

• a reasonable assessment of Stalin’s aims based on the facts
• an overreaction to Stalin’s actions based on fear of and prejudice towards the USSR?        
I would say that Source 26  is a reasonable assessment of Stalin's aims based on the facts. This is because within the quote, "...not only is the Soviet Government not prepared to co-operate with any non-Communist controlled government in eastern Europe, but it is actively preparing to extend its hold over the remaining part of continental Europe...." the British Foreign Secretary is looking at what the USSR has chosen to do and is planning to do, he is looking at the facts and making a logical assumption that the Soviet Union plans to keep spreading communism over the world. He doesn't appear to hold too much prejudice, and he even admits that the USSR could potentially be successful in the quote, "The immensity of the aim should not betray us into believing that it cannot be achieved. Basically, source 26 was somewhat objective and just appeared to analyze the facts at hand rather than overreact due to prejudice. 
2. Source 26 is a British source. Does it seem likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government?      
Yes it seems likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government because both Britain and the U.S. at this point realized Stalin was in it to win it, and wasn't planning to back down against non-communist governments. So, reports such as this would most likely be being delivered often in both the United States and Britain to the cabinets. 
3. Study Source 27 (p. 71) and make a list of three different actions that Communists took to achieve power in eastern Europe. Explain how each factor helped.     

1. Communists adapted a left-wing coalition government and exiled a non-communist leader in Poland. This non-communist leader would help enforce communism in Poland, and the coalition government would make it seem like the Soviet communists would run for elections, but then they'd just take over. 
2. Communists rid of of the monarchy in Romania and made a communist into Prime Minister there. This was a continuation of what the USSR had been doing to other countries in eastern Europe: eradicating any other government and implementing communism. 
3. Banned other parties after election in Czechoslovakia and made it a one-party state. This was another example of how the USSR would have "elections" where the left-wing coalition would win, and then just use that to take over the country and enforce communism. One the USSR made Czechoslovakia a one-party state, elections were no more, and communism was the dominant government. 

Basically all three of these actions spread communism throughout eastern Europe and rid of any opposing governments that might've threatened their power.