communism

[aimzy]

How did the Americans feel about communism during 1954?

[jno]

strongly anti, and not just during 1954 (they still hate Castro). Rather a vague question, though.

[paddywak]

They were absolutly paranoid about it, thousands of people, from all walks of life had there lives ruined. The film industry was notorious for the infamous "blacklist" which included some of the best known performers of the time which debared these people from any work at all in the film industry, often on the slightest, unfounded suspicions. For more detailed info google "McCarthyism" as Senator Joe McCarthy was the man mainly reponsible for stirring the general anti-communist fear that ran thru America in the 50's

[starmack]

See the film "Good Night and Good Luck" on the life of Ed Murrow and Woody Allen's film "The Front" and read EL Doctorow's "Book of Daniel."

[fairkatrina]

Hated it beyond all belief. Saw it as a threat to their Capitalist system (bit like the Middle East today; isn't it funny how they've insisted on installing democracy?). They believed in something called the 'domino effect' which basically stated that if a nation became communist, its neighbours would too (bit like if you knock one domino, another will fall). Of course this was completely unfounded, but it was a good enough excuse to invade Vietnam...

[starmack]

Google McCarthy and HUAC to get a flavour of the times.

[Clanad]

In 1950 a confluence of events occurred that caused the anti-communist fervor not only in the U.S, but also in western Europe as well as Britain. Mao Zedong, after nearly 25 years defeated Chiang Kai-shek making the entire nation Communist. Russia exploded it's first atomic bomb with secrets provided by the American and British traitors (Ethel and Julius Rosenberg in the U.S. and Klaus Fuchs in England). Russia dominated eastern Europe and forcefully put down an uprising in Budapest in 1956 whose roots are traced to around 1950. Ho Chi Minh began his offensive against French troops in Indo China in January of 1950, supported by Russia. On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. North Korea's army and air force were totally supplied by Russia and thousands of Russian advisors participated.
In war weary Europe and Britain, rebuilding following WW II was finally beginning in earnest.
Russia blockaded West Berlin, hoping to force the western powers to accede to its demands to retreat from the city... the Berlin Airlift broke the blockade finally.
So... who stood between communist domination by the massive land and air forces of Russia, now armed with atomic bombs? The U.S. aided by Britain. The specter of communist domination of a world recently rid of the Axis powers certainly did percipitate excesses by Senator McCarthy and others... but considering everything that was happening, it was fairly shortlived and McCarthy was censured.
The threat wasn't just to "their Capitalist system"... but to the entire western world... By the way, I think Vietnam is communist today, no?

[Count_Emmup]

They were agin' it.