The Roots of the Cold War
Think about a recent presidential election. Can you think of any memorable commercials? What were some of the main issues dividing the candidates? You can learn a lot about the issues that concerned people, as well as the mood of much of the nation, by watching an election's campaign commercials. Often, candidates try to capture the concerns of voters and show how they are the best candidate to address those concerns.
During the Cold War, Americans were very concerned about the power of the Soviet Union and the possibility of nuclear war. Visit the website of the Museum of the Moving Image to watch some of the memorable political campaign commercials listed below. As you watch these campaign commercials that were created during the Cold War, make a list of any important "buzz words" or themes that show how the threat of the U.S.S.R. and nuclear war dominated American politics for more than 40 years.