Question

What events and developments between 1945 and 1952 generated massive anxieties and challenges to American postwar confidence-- despite the country's record economic prosperity?

Answer 1

Answer:

Events and Developments between 1945 and 1952 that generated massive anxieties and challenges to American postwar confidence:

1. The world slided into the Cold War Era between Communist USSR/China and the U.S.  There was "massive anxieties" because it looked as if a third world war was about to explode, mainly triggered by the Korean peninsular conflicts.

2. Communism threatened homeland security and the fear of communist infiltration was great.  America was deeply divided between pro democracy/freedom supporters and those who promoted communist ideologies, especially some labor unions, even Nollywood was threatened.

3. The Soviet Union was able to build and explode its own atomic bomb in 1949.  This heightened the fear of military attack at home.

Explanation:

The second world war ended in 1945 with the overwhelming victory over Hitler's Germany.  Though, the USSR were allied in the war with the U.S., immediately after the war, the Soviets retreated to protect their long-held autocratic ideologies and their stranglehold on Eastern Europe out of fear of being invaded by Western Europe after the unsuccessful German attempt was repelled.  On the other hand, the U.S. was anxious to enable other nations to enjoy democracy, freedom, free trade, and economic prosperity as it was enjoying.  Moreover, the USSR was also trying to infiltrate the U.S. with its own communist ideas.  These conflicting positions turned the USSR into an archenemy with the U.S, thus exacerbating anxiety  and eroding post-war confidence at home.