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This part of my scrapbook contains newspaper headlines, photos, and letters I found in my Nana Edith and Pop Elmer attic from the Post War Era.

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We lost China to Communism and a new plan has been created. McCarthyism is needed to stop this country from falling apart and being taken over. McCarthy has created a new way of purging communists from our country and from the government.

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McCarthyism has been not working out well. Innocent people are being accused of being homosexual communists and their lives are being ruined. The Rosenbergs were found guilty and even executed with no real evidence of them being communist or being in cahoots with the Soviet Union.
Is McCarthyism an effective way to get rid of Communists?
It does not seem like it, it is just innocent lives being destroyed!

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a. Dear Bonnie,

I hope you are doing well and taking care of yourself. I imagine you have heard about the recent linking of sexuality to communism. I mean, of course, you have you work at the State Department. But I don’t want you to worry but I have been accused of being gay and engaging in homosexual activity. I found out because a man from the US State Department came to my work. I was told they had reason to believe that I was gay and therefore a communist. They believed I was a threat and that I betrayed our government. I had heard of this happening to other people around me but I never thought I would be accused of engaging in homosexual activity. I don’t think I look “gay” but I guess others think I do because that is what everything is being based on. I don’t want to resign but I know I will be fired soon if I don’t. Many people have resigned recently and I didn’t think much of it. It could ruin my life even more and I could never get a job again if this gets out. I was wondering if you knew of any way I could prove I am not gay because I imagine you are dealing with this all around you. If not totally okay, I am just really struggling right now and don’t know what to do.

Anyway, I later found out that someone that was also being accused of being gay gave my name as someone he thought was gay or that he had seen me engaging in homosexual behavior. I don’t know who did it but it is very sad. Apparently, his reasoning was that I have so-called “feminine features.” I don't even know what that means and I don’t think there is anything I can do to change it.

I figured out at this point, the United States government's goal is to get rid of anyone who looks or acts “different” than anyone meaning anyone who is bisexual or homosexual. Everyone here around me now thinks everyone is a communist or a homosexual. If you are either or both then that means that you are giving confidential important information to the USSR.

My plan right now is to maybe go back home if I have to, I don’t want to but it might come to that. If I get fired or quit I don’t have much money in my savings account to fall back on and most likely will not be able to get a job around here. And that is due to me being a “homosexual communist.”

I hope I can keep my job here or get one back home if needed. If you have any ideas on what I should do please let me know.

With much love,

James Lee

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b. Below is an interview done by Bonnie with her superior.
1. QUESTION: Why do you think gay men, gay women, and bisexuals are not suitable for federal employment?

They are violating the law

They are all communists

They take advantage of people- such as young men and women

They do not have the emotional stability that is needed for a government job

They are outcasts and can not be seen in the American government

Any person that is gay can pollute a government office

2. QUESTION: Why are gay men, gay women, and bisexuals a threat to national security?

They will leak classified information in exchange for not being out as gay or bisexual

They are trying to turn our government communist

They are sexual perverts and therefore criminals

They participate in blackmail

They have a weak character so people could get information from them easily

They are easy for spies to identify

3. QUESTION: How do you justify all the recent firing and prosecuting of gay men, gay women, and bisexuals?

They are the definition of a sexual pervert

They did not have to be gay

They could change their sexuality at any time

They were hiding and knew they were guilty

All gay people are communists!

4. QUESTION: What type of punishment do you think these communist gay men, gay women, and bisexuals deserve?

Huge fines

Jail or prison time

To lose their job and never be able to work again until cured

They have to go to psychiatric treatment and be cured

They have to change their sexual preferences.

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1. Brown v. Board (click to see both pictures)

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1. Brown v. Board (click to see both pictures)

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Just now The Supreme Court finally rules that all segregated schools are a violation of the 14th Amendment. Widespread outrage has occurred as well as widespread bliss. This a huge turning point in history and nothing will ever be the same again. We are finally stepping in the right direction to make everything equal and not constantly acting in a way that is unconstitutional to Black Americans. Schools have now been ordered by the Supreme Court to desegregate when they can and provide equal schooling opportunities for Black Americans.

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2. Emmet Tilly (click to see both pictures and it was supposed to say Tilly not Till)

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2. Emmet Tilly (click to see both pictures and it was supposed to say Tilly not Till)

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Emmet Tilly was murdered by two White men after saying "bye baby" to a White woman in a store in Mississippi. Tilly was from Chicago and therefore he was not used to such strong racism. He was just 14 years old when two White men showed up at his uncle's house who he was staying with and asked to talk to Tilly. That night Emmet Tilly was then brutally beaten, shot, and threw his body into the river. The death of Emmet Tilly has been spread ever since his mother had an open casket funeral. Pictures of him dead have been in newspapers and are showing the world the reality for Black people. All around civil rights movements have started and gained great support. We need to fight back against racism and inequality towards Black people.

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3. Montgomery Bus Boycott (click to see pictures)

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3. Montgomery Bus Boycott (click to see pictures)

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In Montgomery, Alabama movements to desegregate the bus system have been happening. Black and White people are gathering in church basements to organize events. The most recent has been having Rosa Parks refused to leave her seat on the bus. Yes, you heard that right Rosa Parks being arrested, having her not get up, and give her seat to a White person was all a plan. Black people are sick of being treated as less than and tired of having to stand because there were more white people on the bus. Bus drivers would skip stops intentionally because there were people of color at the stops. After the recent arrest of Rosa Parks, more White people joined in which meant more money and more people. It created the perfect time to have a boycott of the bus companies as well. But this led people of color to have to walk miles and miles to their job or join a carpool but many did not have a car. The people of color who were walking would have violence directed at them every day. Finally, the bus companies were not making any money because of the boycott, and eventually, that led to the buses being desegregated. But there is still so much segregation that needs changing.

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4. Little Rock 9 (click to see both pictures)

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4. Little Rock 9 (click to see both pictures)

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Just now after the Brown v Board case, schools in Little Rock were being pressured to desegregate. So therefore Central High School chose 9 students of color to go to the once "white" school. The first day the LR9 came to the school an aggressive mob of White people made the entrance to the school almost impossible. As if things could not get worse for the Little Rock 9 the Governor Oral Faubus sent the National Gaurd to Central High School and ordered them to not allow the 9 students to enter the school. Then finally President Eisenhower heard about the National Gaurd not allowing the LR9 in and ended up ordering the National Gaurd to escort the students in. So this led to all of the Little Rock 9 having military protection in school. Although there has still been lots of racism in this school system there is at least some hope for Black Americans.

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5. Lunch Counter Sit-Ins (click to see both pictures)

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5. Lunch Counter Sit-Ins (click to see both pictures)

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The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) organized lunch counter sit-ins recently because Black people were not allowed to sit at the counters in the South. Places, where the most sit-ins occurred, were Nashville and Greensboro. In department stores, there are lunch counters and it’s because women that were shopping would need to eat. An example of where a sit-in was Woolworths. So the student activists would go and sit at the lunch counters and they refused to leave they have been cycling in and out in groups. It has been all over the news and TV. The students at the lunch counter have been beaten, arrested, expelled, jeered, and even had the cops called on them. But each time the students were peaceful even when they were getting jerked around and physical abuse.
The lunch counter sit-ins have been showing the brutal and ugly face of racism to the American people. The movement has even started to spread up to the North and students there are holding sit-ins as well. From all of the coverage on the news and TV, even more support from White people and other people of color has arisen and an even stronger movement for civil rights has grown all over the United States.

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The American Dream was not a reality for many Americans. There were 40 million people in the United States there were living in poverty and by the time it was 1962 one in four Americans were living below the poverty line. The cities started to become much more populated by people of color and white people did not approve of it or want that. Therefore many many white people left the cities and that is referred to as the White Flight. The white people kept the economy running in the city at this time and when they all left the Other America became much more apparent.

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White Flight becomes more popular when the number of people of color in the cities increases making the number of white people in cities much less. With the huge loss of people, the city government lost tax money and many businesses which led to the government not being able to afford the services they were supposed to supply. Then because of the city government not being able to afford proper services the poverty level increases even more in the inner cities where all the Latinos, Black Americans, and Native Americans were living. Slums then became the norm and many people living in overcrowded streets or areas. These slums were incredibly overcrowded and dirty and filled with very poor people.

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During this time period, this source proves that there was still a huge difference between how Black and White students were treated even after schools were ordered to desegregate. White students were let off the hook much easier than Black students and were not held accountable for any of their actions. But Black students on the other hand were very much held accountable even if they had a right to stand up for themselves. Black folks were expected to just sit back and not retaliate to any hate they were receiving. They were just supposed to take it even if it was physical and verbal abuse. If any Black person or student stood up for themselves they would find themselves in big trouble. Like Minnie Brown did after she stood up for herself after being called the n-word multiple times and being hit by white students around her. This source provides reasoning and evidence for the huge double standard. Black students got in trouble for much less as Minnie Jean did after calling a white student “white-trash” she was expelled. But before that, a white student had been calling her the n-word on a daily basis and hit/threw things at her but she received no punishment for her actions. So overall this source provides a great example of how change was needed to further civil rights.

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Below are Pop Elmer's collection of newspaper headlines and photographs, as well as a party invitation to a party my grandparents threw to celebrate US progress in the Space Race. Last, there is my Uncle Clyde wrote to my grandparents about the Hungarian Uprising. All of which was found in my Nana Edith and Pop Elmer's attic.

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Pop Elmer and the American people believed that Iran was using the Soviet Union for help and supplies. Americans did not like that because the Soviet Union was communist and therefore thought there would be a more communist influence in Iran that could make it very difficult for the United States to have control. The Americans were also very considered about Iran having stronger ties to the Soviet Union because they transport lots of goods.

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Pop Elmer and many American people believed that children were very easy to persuade communism on to. So in Iran Americans believed that the school system and education were teaching the children communism and therefore raising a generation that strongly believed in communism.

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Pop Elmer and the American people believed that Arbenz (the president in Guatemala) was a communist and a threat to the United States. Americans were very interested in the United Fruit Company because that is where they got a lot of their supplies from. If they turned communist Americans thought they no longer could get fruit, specifically bananas. Americans were very interested in tropical fruit so the American government and the CIA knew that they had to save the bananas from the communists. So the Americans made a deal with the Guatemalan farmers to protect the bananas and the American money.

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Pop Elmer and the American people believed and were told that American land was being given to peasants and those peasants were believed to be communists. The Americans thinking was that if these peasants get this land, they will have money, and more control in Guatemala. Which would lead the peasants to have more social standing to push communism on others. So overall the American people believed that Guatemala was becoming communist.

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Pop Elmer and the rest of the American people were being told that Egypt was going to take over the Suez Canal which would mean that the canal would be under Communist control. The Suez Canal was very useful for the Americans and if it was under communist control they did not know what would happen so it caused the American people to worry.

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Pop Elmer and the rest of the American people had heard that Britain was supposed to be on the US side but was hiding their plans regarding the Suez Canal from the US. There were British soldiers at the canal fights which President Eisenhower was not aware of it right away or the plan. So basically the American people were under the impression that Britain was going against them and trying to sneak behind their back.

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Pop Elmer and the rest of the American people believed that if they went to Hungary to fight the Soviet Union it would create World War III. The Americans did not want another war, they were tired of fighting, and they were tired of living in constant fear of war. The Americans were told and believed that Hungary did not stand a chance against the Soviet Union and that there was nothing they could do to help.

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Pop Elmer and the rest of the American people would have believed that communism makes your own people turn on one another. They believed that because the Soviets attacked Hungary which they once were recently protecting. This led Americans to have more reasoning to backup why communism was a horrible and terrifying way of life.

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Part B. (you have to click on it to see all three pictures below and the full invitation)

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Part B. (you have to click on it to see all three pictures below and the full invitation)

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Dear mother and father,
I hope you both are well. As you know I managed to gain entry into Hungary before the Hungarian Uprising. It has been a scary and stressful time. Many many people have died and the others are living in constant fear. After Hungary joined the Warsaw Pact it led many Hungarian people to fight against communism. I witnessed protests and other events to speak out against communism but really what a lot of the people around me wanted was an independent, free, and democratic Hungary. They were not getting that in the Warsaw Pact and it was affecting Hungarians socially and economically in a bad way. Therefore many of them no longer wanted to be a communist country. So on October 23rd 1956, students and other workers went to the streets in Budapest and started explaining and voicing their demands which were called the Sixteen Points, it included policies around personal freedom, more food, the removal of the secret police, and the removal of Soviet Union control. This led many Hungarian people to come together then on October 31st and then Nagy who was a liberal communist leader announced that Hungary was going to withdraw itself from the Warsaw Pact. The Soviet Union was not okay with this so 4 days later Soviet tanks showed up in Budapest. They were claiming to restore order to the Hungarian people. People around me were freaking out. Everyone knew there was no way the Hungarian people and the Hungary Army could ever stop the Soviet Union. They were scared they would use nuclear war powers on them which the Hungarian people could never put a fight against, Hungarians knew they would be destroyed once again. At this point, Hungary was hoping American would send troops because of the Eisenhower Doctrine which I imagine you both know what it is. But basically, it’s a policy that said the US would defend any country in the Middle East that was fighting against communism. But the United States violated it, turns out they will not help satellite nations so Hungary was left with no help.

So in the end the Soviet Union won as a result of the uprising in 1956. Everything around me was destroyed, and I mean everything. Around 20,000 people were wounded, more than 2,500 died and 2,000 of those who died were Hungarian. Then about 200,000 people were forced to leave their home and their land. The Soviets even captured around 5,000 people and 860 were young children. The people who were captured were sent to the Soviet Union as prisoners of war and of those around 300-450 people died. So unfortunately Hungary was not able to get out of the Warsaw Pact and is still under Soviet military control. Hope this letter helps you understand how bad it is here.

Love and miss you both,

Clyde

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Below are ads for clothes, household products, recipes for food, an ad for a car, and a diary entry. I found all of this in my Nana Edith and Pop Elmer's attic.

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Nana wanted these skirts because she loved colorful patterns. But I think the main reason she wanted these skirts was because every housewife was wearing them so she wanted to fit in and do the appropriate thing.
This ad tells us that women were always supposed to dress feminine and dressy. Even when they were doing housework, laundry, and other things they were supposed to wearing a skirt or a dress. It also shows us how women's bodies were expected to look, they were to have a very small waist.

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Nana wanted these slacks to have different things to wear than just skirts and dresses. Even though skirts and dresses were what she was supposed to wear she did not like wearing them while doing housework. She wanted the slacks because she could do her everyday things in them and it would still be considered acceptable by society.
This ad tells us that slacks are not pants and that women should be covering their legs with loose-fitting clothing but still make sure it is very tight around the waist. Basically just further illustrating that women were to have a very tiny waist.

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Nana wanted the Kitchen Aid because she could make so making things in it such as bread, cake, cupcakes, pancakes, cake pops, and so much more. She knew this would make it much easier to make Pop's favorite dessert more often for him. His favorite was strawberry cake with peanut butter frosting. Which she also knew she could make frosting much quicker.
This ad tells us that a women's main goal in life was to please her husband and the other people that were in her life and no so much her own. This also tells us that women were to have the newest and greatest model of every appliance there was. So the appliances you have show your place in society and how much money you have/make.

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Nana wanted the new refrigerator that makes ice cubes without trays because she knew how much easier it would be to prepare cold drinks. Do you know who loved cold drinks? Well, Pops did. He loved a cold iced tea, cold beer, and a cold glass of water. Nana knew it would save her some time throughout the day especially when she greeted him with an iced beer when he returned from work all she would have to do was reach in the basket.
This ad tells us that women are the ones dealing with the ice trays and doing that work because Nana had this ad saved and there is a woman below opening the fridge. This ad also tells us even further how much the newest appliances were valued and how everyone wanted them because it was social status and just to make their lives easyier as well.

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Nana and Pop moved out of the city to the suburbs because it was much safer. Nana and Papa had children and there were sidewalks and yards where they could play safely. There were also parks around as well and they loved the openness and fresh air of the suburbs.

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This was the house that Nana and Pop purchased when they moved to the suburbs. They loved it because it was close to great schools for their children. While still being very close to the city which was where Pop worked. They were so glad they found an affordable home to buy and raise their family.

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Nana and Pop met great new people in their neighborhood. They would have dinners and BBQs outside with the whole neighborhood. Some became their closest friends. Many were friendly and were the type of people you could ask to borrow sugar or food from when cooking. Nana said that it was so helpful to have people next door to borrow things from.

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Nana and Pop loved the openness of their new home in suburbia. Nana said it was a lot of work to clean their home every day but it offered space for everyone which was great. Nana said it was a great house to do all the childcare and housework in.

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During the 1950s the suburban family had a lot of expenses. Women were expected to have all of the newest inventions, clothes, and much more to run their house. Therefore that did not leave a lot of money for expensive high-end food. This recipe of Nana Edith was very popular with her because casseroles are so inexpensive to make and could feed a lot of people at a time.

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C. Nana's Recipe for 15-Minute Meat Loaf

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C. Nana's Recipe for 15-Minute Meat Loaf

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During the 1950s a lot was expected of my Nana. Below is a recipe that I found, she made a lot during the 1950s. I imagine with all the other work she was expected to do she did not have a lot of time to make a huge meal. Nana was expected to take care of the children, clean the house, look perfect, and make meals. This recipe tells us there was not a lot of time for women to cook so they resorted to simple, quick, and easy recipes.

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Pops loved cars and he really wanted this car because it had so many uses. He knew he had to have a car because everyone around him did and he needed one to get to work in the city or have Nana drive him. He loved this ad because it showed all the cars could bring to his family. He already loved it but he knew Nana would love it too because of the King Size breaks and how easy it was to handle. Pops also wanted it because of the amount of room he could fit so much in it including his children and maybe even more of his family. Lastly, he wanted it because he knew it would be a great car to represent himself and his family in.

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Today was another day living “The American Dream” which was basically just cleaning, taking care of the children, and of course looking perfect while doing so.
To start my morning I woke up at 6:30 AM because Elmer was going to work. I made him eggs, toast, bacon and prepared him coffee. We talked about how work was going for him, and the children a bit. I thought about talking to him about my thoughts of finding a job outside the home but I knew it wasn't the right time. He has been very busy at work and stressed out I think. I know it is not my job to burden him with my ideas. Of course, I am living the suburban dream. I have a wonderful house in a safe neighborhood, with fresh air, parks, great schools, my husband can get to work easily, and I've made some great friends with the neighbors. Elmer has even just bought a new car and has given me money to purchase new products that have come out.
Anyway, today after my husband left to go to work I made the bed, cleaned up the kitchen, and freshened up a bit. I woke the children and got all 3 kids ready for school as well as making them breakfast. The kids went off to school and I was left to start my daily tasks. I started with loads of laundry, I began dinner preparations for the following week as well as getting everything prepared for dinner tonight. I made meatloaf, it's my husband's favorite. At this time I had a small lunch and made a quick shopping list of things I needed to buy. Writing all of this out makes me seem like I don't do a lot but trust me I'm very busy throughout the day. I know before I said I wanted a job it's not because I don't love my life. I love my kids and my husband. It's just that I feel like I could do so much more outside the home, I would also feel fulfilled and happy. If I was to get a job I could still be home when Elmer arrives home, I could freshen up, and have dinner. I know I could. If anything, having a job will help me act truthfully. Instead of pretending to be gay, I would actually be gay because I would be fulfilled. But I don't know if it is the right thing to do. I should know my role, it is to be a caretaker. That is what I signed up to do by moving to the suburbs. I should not be feeling this way I don’t think. Although I was talking to my neighbor today and she said she read in The Feminine Mystique that 20% of suburban housewives were unhappy so at least I am not alone. But as I said before don’t get me wrong I love my husband and my kids. They are the best things that have ever happened to me but I need more. I need to tell my husband how I am feeling, I should be allowed to. Maybe I will do it tomorrow over breakfast.
Talk tomorrow,
Edith

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Below are a letter and pieces of propaganda that I found in my grandparent's attic. It talks all about communism and their fears/thoughts around it.

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My wife Edith and I are writing this letter to express our concern and fear of the spread of communism. As you all know communism is a horrible thing and can not continue to be spread to any other countries.

Thankfully the United States has come up with a Policy of Containment. You probably know it was created to stop the spread of communism. We believe it is a great strategy that Truman put through to stop the evil Soviet Union. Although I don’t know how well it has been working because China has become communist and people are terrified including my wife and I. Everyone I know is terrified because containment did not work in China. I think it has something to do with the US government being full of communists, they want communism to spread and to keep spreading. They don’t care about the United States and the United States citizens. They only care about themselves and the spread of their beloved way of government. Who knows what they even do in these communist countries. Thankfully we have the Iron Curtain so we do not have to know what the communists even do there. But we can still track what they are doing. Thank god for the satellites so we can prepare for their attack and know what crazy communist things are being planned. I bet for everyone horrific things are happening to them in the countries that have become communist. Things that our amazing democracy would never even think of doing. Although there is still the Iron Curtain we are still preparing for a Soviet Attack, we know those crazy communists could try to come into Western Europe at any time. But they need to stay in Eastern Europe, communism can no longer spread.

Personally, we are not too sure about this Marshall Plan. Giving money to other countries even if they are for now non-communist they could be working with the Soviet Union for all we know and end up taking our money for their own benefit. We have heard that we have given aid to many other countries, way too much for my liking. We just got out of war too, we can’t afford to be giving out billions of dollars. But many countries have been damaged greatly because of the war so I suppose it is good that we are giving aid. If the Marshall Plan was not created we could have another Hitler rising into power which is the last thing we need. But it did not even work with China. How much money did we give them? Oh right 3 billion dollars in aid. Did they become communist? Oh yes, they did and now the United States has lost so much money. Those other countries better not be using us for our money too!

The United States has continued to make a huge Involvement in Korea. We believe the United States has to keep sending troops and money to Korea. They need it. South Korea can not turn communist either, there is just no way. America is the best country and we will always win. So in order to stop communism, we know the United States has to step in. So my wife and I wholeheartedly agree with the United States' involvement in the Korean War. Many have risked their lives going to fight against North Korea but the United States has done the right thing even if it has cost many lives. Communism is more deadly than any war anyway.

Any way to stop communism is fine with us, we know that it is our country's job to spread democracy and to stop communism. This letter is part of our fight against communism.

Sincerely,

Edith and Elmer Williams

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This piece of propaganda illustrates the way communism spreads. Similar to the tentacles of the octopus, communism can spread out and seep into many different countries and communities. It is sneaky and stealthy but strong just like an octopus.

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This piece of propaganda demonstrates how women need to be protected from communism. It is showing how communism leads to rape and women being hurt. RED=Communism. So the translation is communism rape. This piece of propaganda is also saying that it can happen here. Meaning America even though they are not a communist government it can spread and everyone should be ready to protect the women.

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This piece of propaganda shows popular and beloved characters. Not only are these characters appealing but having them fight communism connects positive thoughts with fighting communism. Therefore this piece is encouraging fighting communism and making it more appealing to people.

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This piece of propaganda shows what will happen if people don't fight communism and support Anti-Communism. It was made to scare people and get them thinking about what could happen if communism continues to take over. It was also created to encourage fighting and standing up to communism so World War III would not happen.