Cold War and McCarthy Era: People and Perspectives

America's celebration of victory at the end of World War II was short lived. Rapidly escalating tensions with the Soviet Union helped spawn a new era of fear and suspicion as the United States sought to confront the threat of communism from both outside and within its borders. One man so vigorously (and recklessly) pursued Communists in the United States, that the era now commonly bears his name.

Cold War and McCarthy Era: People and Perspectives gauges the impact of McCarthyism on a wide range of citizens. Chapters examine Cold War-era popular culture as well as the community-based civil defense societies. Essays, key primary documents, and other reference tools further readers' understanding of how official reactions to Communist threats, both real and perceived, altered every aspect of American society.

Titles in the Perspectives in American Social History series look at how ordinary people from all parts of American society influenced---and were affected by---the defining eras and pivotal events in U.S. history. It is a ground-level view of history---a complementary way of exploring crucial moments when American society underwent significant change. Topics are selected to fit curriculum standards for both high school history classes and undergraduate American history courses. An emphasis on social history brings a groundbreaking new trend in historical analysis into the classroom while focusing discussions on topics that will engage students and enhance the traditional approach to history.

Caroline S. Emmons is associate professor of history at Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA.