How did the Cold War affect the civil liberties of Americans?

Answer 1

Joseph McCarthy, a Senator from Wisconsin, created an investigatory panel called the House on UnAmerican Activities Committee, (HUAC). He televised the meetings, most of which were ruthless hammerings of citizens who were not even remotely involved in espionage or terrorism. MCCarthy simply wanted to move his career ahead and created witchhunts. He ruined many, many lives.The ACLU was formed to combat his assault on the First Amendment and create a balance hold the Congress and the judiciary accountable for their actions.

The trade and travel restrictions had very little effect on the average American, but the atmosphere of tension from Mr. McCarthy did. Many Americans lost their jobs and reputations from the accusations. It shaped the zeitgeist of the 1950s by creating an atmosphere of repression.

Answer 2

Any time the government enacts a law that provides protection for individuals, it takes away some of our freedom of action and during the cold war was no different.

For instance there was trade and travel restrictions with Russia. There were restrictions with the export of technology. Plus there was a required registration of Communists at the beginning of the cold war

Answer 3

if we had lost the Cold War and become a Communist dictatorship......like Russia and East Europe were, and Cuba and North Korea are today, we wouldn't have had ANY civil liberties........as the Cuban and N Korean people don't today...