After World War II, the United States aimed to spread the hard-won democracy to the world, whereas the superpower Soviet’s expanding influence in Eastern Europe aroused concerns and distrust. In 1946, Kennan sent a telegram emphasizing the distinction between communist and capitalist ideology, stressing the potential threats of the Soviet forces. Containment, a policy of containing Soviet expansion of Communism, came into effect.

Following containment was the Marshall Plan, wherein America sent 17 billion dollars to help war-torn European countries revive economies and strengthen democratic governments. Tensions escalated in 1948 when the Soviet Union blockaded Western Berlin, and Wests flew supply inside under great risks and reopened communications. Thereafter, NATO and National Security Act, military defense systems protecting Western Europe and America appeared. In 1952, Republican senator McCarthy made proofless accusations of possible communists across occupations, spreading fear and heightening political repression.

Cold War in Asia involved the founding of Israel, Chinese KMT-CPC Civil War, and the Korean War between Soviet-controlled North Korea and America-governed South Korea. As the UN forces pressed on, American soldiers saw hopes of removing Korean Communism entirely; but as China entered, UN forces retreated.

Under Truman’s approach, American postwar economy boomed, characterized by doubled GDP, affordable automobile and televisions, and baby boom in suburbs, while Eisenhower’s dynamic conservatism led to several years of recession.

On the other hand, African Americans’ struggle for social justice proceeded. In 1948, a 10-point civil rights program barred military segregation, followed by Brown v. Board of Education’s decision to decreed the “separate but equal” doctrine at schools. Facing violent oppositions in Little Rock school, Eisenhower ordered troops to stand in classrooms protecting black rights. Similarly, Rosa Parks’s arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat in “the whites-only area” resulted in bus boycotts and abolishment of bus segregation. Forging ahead, The Voting Right Act, Fair Housing Act were institutionalized.

Despite war spendings, the Cold War ushered in a new era of American geopolitics, diplomacy, and domestic economy, due to the Marshall plan that brought allies on- side, renovation in aerospace techniques used to carry supplies in Berlin Airlift, and Truman’s authorization of developing new and more powerful hydrogen weapons. 

Nevertheless, conflicts between federal laws and states’ rights are still birthing racial inequities today. Over the years several southern states legislated “Interposition” charging that federal anti-discrimination laws could be nullified by states’ rights. But notable effects of states’ rights governance, particularly in southern states, could be seen in terms of disproportionate poverty rates, educational opportunities, and a lack of access to medical facilities in at-risk communities. Further, during COVID-19, according to AP News, 3,300 victims of the 13,000 deaths (~ 42%) were Black. African-Americans are ~21% of the total population. The ongoing Civil rights movement (BLM protests) added to my impression that eliminating racism thoroughly is an arduous long path, as reflected in a popular twit, “when the law applies equally, the killings continue and peaceful protests go unanswered, what exactly is the right response that will force those in power to listen?”

Nevertheless, it’s worthwhile learning about Americans’ capacity to transform adversities into motives. When, during the 1950s, television presentations of white “idealized” family life stimulated people to conform to societal expectations of their gender, novel blood in literature and music co-occur, marked by the newly- established rock-and-roll genre and literary work like The Lonely Crowd, paving ways for social revolution. Americans’ ceaseless pursuit of diversity and freedom serves as a referential model for China with its foundation in traditional ideology.

I noted a parallel between McCarthyism and China’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), a sociopolitical act to preserve Communism by purging possible capitalist remnants from China. The targets of attack different, both movements consider itself the gatekeeper of political correctness in public discourse and professional conduct whether it involves artists, academics, politicians, etc. They are similarly hysterical in accusing innocent people as culpable, although the latter covered a far wider population.

Another parallel in history lies between Kennan’s letter that initiated Containment and Michael Pompeo’s recent speech, “America can no longer ignore the fundamental political and ideological differences between our countries1, just as the CCP has never ignored them,” while the latter (?) (Referring to Michael Pompeo’s speech) is far less inflammatory. Despite tensions among our nations (?) (I meant to write U.S. and China) turning white-hot, another cold war seems unlikely to happen. During an armed conflict between China and America in Korean War, given the disparity between military and technological power, the U.S. did not win over China. Given our drastic development and America’s falling GDP and unemployment rates affected by coronavirus, another Cold War would only be internecine.