The Cold War had an impact regarding Americans socially and culturally. What was the Cold War? The Cold War was a small war between the US and the Soviet Union. It ended up to be that the Soviet Union ended after this.What specifically in social and cultural life did it impact? It impacted how people bonded and they got closer with different cultures, such as African Americans.
Some of history’s most famous speeches given during this time include John F. Kennedy’s “A strategy to Peace” and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “A Chance for Peace”. These both were about peace with the Soviet Union and treaty’s and peace initiatives. An excerpt from Kennedy’s speech states:
“What kind of peace do I mean and what kind of a peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war, not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace -- the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living -- and the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and build a better life for their children -- not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women -- not merely peace in our time but peace in all time” (Kennedy)
This is basically saying that they want a real peace with no catch, no hidden attachments. The US doesn’t want a peace that is living under a fear or under weapons. The US wants a real genuine peace.
In his speech, Kennedy states: “Some say that it is useless to speak of peace or world law or world disarmament -- and that it will be useless until the leaders of the Soviet Union adopt a more enlightened attitude. I hope they do. I believe we can help them do it” (Kennedy). He believes that there is a chance for peace with the Soviet Union. Others, however, say that there is no chance of peace. Kennedy is the optimist while others, such as the American people, are pessimists.
Kennedy also speaks about a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. In it includes this:
“ It makes no sense in an age where a single nuclear weapon contains almost ten times the explosive force delivered by all the Allied air forces in the second world war. It makes no sense in an age when the deadly poisons produced by a nuclear exchange would be carried by wind and water and soil and seed to the far corners of the globe and to generations yet unborn” (Kennedy).
What he is saying is, is he wishes there was no nuclear war, that the Soviet Union wouldn’t use bombs since they are so deadly to us and our future generations to come.
Eisenhower gives a speech 10 years earlier with the same context. He says, “In the light of these principles the citizens of the United States defined the way they proposed to follow, through the aftermath of war, toward true peace” (Eisenhower). It is a shorter version of what Kennedy says 10 years later. Eisenhower got to the point. He was very blunt. Kennedy liked to talk, he added on words to make it fancy or more interesting.
“This is one of those times in the affairs of...