Cold war is the period of tension between America and the Solviet Union which lasted from 1945 and 1980. Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by an atomic bomb marked the end of World War II and the beginning of the cold war.
It developed after the world war two, and this was due to mistrust between the two states. America was a communist state, and feared the Solviet Union which was an anti-communist state, slowly coming into America (Farber, 1994). There was a widespread belief among the American people that worldwide control by the Russians was a reality.
It was a period when weapons of mass destruction were a major concern and Americans were feared of owning the most powerful in the world (Marilyn & Robert, 2002). The cold war period was characterized by an intensified tension over a long period of time; in 1949 the United States and USSR had already acquired nuclear capability.
Due to the external military threat by the communists, there was a dire need to give Americans enough protection. National politicians started to warn the citizens of the threat. They were, therefore, told to be vigilant against the communists. These warnings were even accelerated by other levels of society including the media, pastors, opinion makers and community leaders (Harrison & Thomas, 2008).
Citizens had a role to play in protecting communism as citizen soldiers by building a cold war home front. In addition to this, there was an increased promotion of codes of conduct and enacting of public policies by the politicians to boost the American homes. There was a heightened sense of fear and insecurity among the Americans impacting the society to a great extent.
Most of the American people were in agreement with their leaders that the best ways to avert the dangers of the cold war were through family stability (Harrison & Thomas, 2008). These beliefs transformed the American society are vividly beyond the expected boundaries.
There was an immense rush in the society towards marriage and child bearing thus; lowering the age of marriage for both men and women (Elaine, 2008). It reduced the class lines and increased racial divisions. The white middle and working class remained prosperous due to their ability to access suburban good life. The black Americans were excluded from suburbia by racial division that remained camouflaged in the aura of unity.
Bonding helped the families feel at ease and protected against dangers of the outside world. As a family issue was becoming a major issue, couples had limited things in their lives, which included some consumer goods, their sexuality and privacy. Furthermore, divorce cases declined sharply as compared to other years (Harrison & Thomas, 2008). Couples who divorced remained long enough together amid the security crisis and their family roles remained in place.
Since young people had started marrying at a very young age, there was an increment in birthrates as compared to the last hundred years which had recorded a decline (Elaine, 2008). Baby boom was recorded that lasted for more than two decades.
Although home was seen as a refuge and hope of freedom, economic hardships had ripped most of the families. Union of many families during the period helped them to have a sense of security. The danger of nuclear threat was universal and could not be avoided. The best I could do to protect my family is giving them sense of love and protection so as to ease their minds.
I would ensure that my family is knowledgeable about the situation, and I could have advised them to take the suitable cover against the threat presented to them. It is a matter of fact that unity is the best remedy during hard times; I would have ensured that my family is united and peaceful.
In conclusion, although the cold war was different from any other physical war, it impacted extensively on American society. Society had to change in realms of population growth and numbers of divorce cases. Perhaps a question that crosses our minds is why did the young generation resort to early marriages?
References
Elaine, T. (2008). Homeward bound: American families in the Cold War era. New York: Basic Books
Farber, D. (1994).The Age of Great Dreams: America in the 1960s. New York: Hill and Wang.
Harrison, C. & Thomas R. (2008). Power and Society: An Introduction to the Social Sciences. London: Thomson Wadsworth.
Kyle, A. (2005). Manhood and American political culture in the Cold War: Cultures. Routledge. Hardcover, Routledge
Marilyn, B. & Robert, B. (2002). A companion to the Vietnam War, Blackwell companions to American history. New York: John Wiley & Sons.