Daniel Thompson
Jim Peitersen
HIST&148
6/9/2026
Foreign Relations, Domestic Policy, and Public Life During the Cold War
Following World War II, American foreign policy shifted from isolationism to active
global involvement. This change was driven by the policy of containment, which aimed to stop
the spread of communism. The Truman Doctrine of 1947 committed the United States to
supporting nations threatened by communist influence, while the Marshall Plan provided
economic aid to rebuild Western Europe and reduce the appeal of communism.
The Cold War also led to the creation of military alliances such as the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949. American efforts to contain communism extended into
proxy wars, most notably the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In Vietnam, intervention was
largely justified by the domino theory, which argued that if one country became communist,
neighboring nations would follow. These conflicts shaped U.S. foreign policy for decades and
generated significant political and social tensions at home.
Domestically, the Cold War expanded the role of the federal government. The National
Security Act of 1947 established the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA), and the National Security Council (NSC), creating a permanent national security
structure. Cold War priorities also influenced infrastructure and education. The Interstate
Highway Act of 1956 was promoted partly as a defense measure, while the Soviet launch of
Sputnik in 1957 led to increased federal investment in science and mathematics education and
the creation of NASA. During this period, President Dwight Eisenhower warned of the growing
influence of the military-industrial complex, the close relationship between the military and
defense industries.
For the American public, the Cold War was marked by fear and conformity. During the
Second Red Scare, Senator Joseph McCarthy and others fueled concerns about communist
infiltration, leading to investigations, blacklisting, and damaged careers. The Lavender Scare
similarly targeted LGBTQ+ government employees as perceived security risks.
The Cold War also affected the Civil Rights Movement. Because Soviet leaders often
highlighted racial discrimination in the United States, federal officials became more concerned
about improving America's international image. This contributed to actions such as President
Truman's desegregation of the military and the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of
Education.
The Cold War ended between 1989 and 1991 with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the
collapse of the Soviet Union. Although the United States emerged as the world's leading
superpower, decades of ideological conflict had permanently shaped its foreign policy,
government institutions, and society.