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Similarly, the United States sought to protect Latin America from communism by founding The Organization of American States in 1947.  It was an organization of Latin American nations.  The United States thereby sought to stop communist expansion in the western hemisphere, promote democracy, improve communication and encourage cooperation among its members.  The Organization of American States, or OAS, continues to function today, but Cuba has been excluded because of its communist government.

Similarly, the United States sought to protect Latin America from communism by founding The Organization of American States in 1947.  It was an organization of Latin American nations.  The United States thereby sought to stop communist expansion in the western hemisphere, promote democracy, improve communication and encourage cooperation among its members.  The Organization of American States, or OAS, continues to function today, but Cuba has been excluded because of its communist government.

Alarmed by the growing ''internal'' threat of communism in the United States, in 1950 Congress passed The McCarran Internal Security Act.  It required every Communist organization to register with the Attorney General.  Members of these organizations were not allowed to work in any national defense-related job, and the law even authorized the use of internment camps for communists if it became necessary.  

Alarmed by the growing ''internal'' threat of communism in the United States, in 1950 Congress passed The McCarran Internal Security Act.  It required every communist organization to register with the Attorney General, and members of such an organization were not allowed to work in any national defense-related job.  This strong law even authorized the use of internment camps for communists if that became necessary.  

Beginning in 1950, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy took the lead in opposing communist infiltration of the United States government.  Contrary to misunderstandings caused by media distortions, McCarthy only complained about and opposed communists holding high-level government jobs.  He did not complain about private citizens who were communists.

Beginning in 1950, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy took the lead in opposing communist infiltration in the United States government.  Contrary to misunderstandings caused by media distortions, McCarthy complained about and opposed only communists who held high-level government jobs.  He did not complain about private citizens.

McCarthy was highly effective in exposing communists in key government jobs, and liberals hate him for it to this day.  Ultimately his opponents were able to foment public pressure against him, and other senators "censured" him near the end of his career after McCarthy was embarrassed during hearings in 1954 concerning communists in the Army.  The term "McCarthyism," coined in 1950 in reference to McCarthy's attempts to expose Communists, became synonymous with the overzealous use of innuendo, rumor and guilt-by-association to destroy the reputation of someone.  In fact, McCarthy and Congress had a duty to uphold the Constitution and guard against infiltration of government positions by anyone committed to overthrowing our constitutional system, as communists were.

McCarthy was highly effective in exposing communists in key government jobs, and liberals hate him for it to this day.  Ultimately his opponents were able to foment public pressure against him, and other senators "censured" him near the end of his career after McCarthy was embarrassed during hearings in 1954 concerning communists in the Army.  The term "McCarthyism," coined in 1950 in reference to McCarthy's attempts to expose communists, became synonymous with the overzealous use of innuendo, rumor and guilt-by-association to destroy the reputation of someone.  In fact, McCarthy and Congress had a duty to uphold the Constitution and guard against infiltration of government positions by anyone committed to overthrowing our constitutional system, as communists were.

One of the newsmen who criticized McCarthy in the 1950s was Edward R. Murrow, who is praised for his efforts by the media to this day.   

One of the newsmen who criticized McCarthy in the 1950s was Edward R. Murrow, who is praised for his efforts by the media to this day.   

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, or SEATO, was formed in 1954 in an effort to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia (where Vietnam is located).  Its members included the United States, Great Britain, France, Thailand, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, The Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Pitcairn Island, Tristan de Cunha, and the Philippines.

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, or SEATO, was formed in 1954 in an effort to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia (where Vietnam is located).  Its members included the United States, Great Britain, France, Thailand, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Pitcairn Island, Tristan de Cunha, and the Philippines.

In 1957, when World War II General Dwight Eisenhower was president, he announced "Eisenhower Doctrine":  the United States would use armed force to oppose Communist aggression in Middle East.  This was inspired by the "Domino Theory," which was the view that when one country falls to communism, then like dominos its neighbors will also fall to (become controlled by) communism.

In 1957, when World War II General Dwight Eisenhower was president, he announced the "Eisenhower Doctrine":  the United States would use armed force to oppose communist aggression in Middle East.  This was inspired by the "Domino Theory," which was the view that when one country falls to communism, then like dominos its neighbors will also fall to (become controlled by) communism.

Also in 1957, the U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union) launched a man into outer space in the rocket famously named "Sputnik".  This caused a panic in the United States about how the Soviet Union appeared to be more advanced than Americans, and was ahead of the United States in exploring outer space.  Some conservatives felt that it was tactical ploy by the Russians to send Americans on a "wild goose chase" in outer space, causing the United States to spend lots of money on something unlikely to be productive.

Also in 1957, the U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union) launched a man into outer space in a rocket famously named "Sputnik".  This caused a panic in the United States about how the Soviet Union appeared to be more advanced than Americans, and was ahead of the United States in exploring outer space.  Some conservatives felt that it was tactical ploy by the Russians to send Americans on a "wild goose chase" in outer space, causing the United States to spend lots of money on something unlikely to be productive.

The United States responded to Sputnik by starting the Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") in 1958, which is a government-run space program that continues to this day.  In 1961, President Kennedy started "Project Apollo" with the goal of beating the Soviet Union to the Moon. As it turned out, Soviet Union never tried to get the Moon.  On July 20, 1969, a simulated broadcast of American Neil Armstrong stepping foot on the Moon was broadcast to a record television audience, with Armstrong's words, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."<ref>http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/F_Apollo_35th_Anniversary.html</ref>

The United States responded to Sputnik by starting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") in 1958, which is a government-run space program that continues to this day.  In 1961, President Kennedy started "Project Apollo" with the goal of beating the Soviet Union to the Moon. As it turned out, the Soviet Union never tried to get the Moon.  On July 20, 1969, a simulated broadcast of American Neil Armstrong stepping foot on the Moon was broadcast to a record television audience, with Armstrong's words, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."<ref>http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/F_Apollo_35th_Anniversary.html</ref>

In the late 1950s, communism spread to a country only 90 miles from Florida:  Cuba, where we still hold a military base as an artifact of the Spanish-American war under President McKinley.  Recall that America gave Cuba freedom from Spain, but in 1959 the communists moved in with a revolution led by Fidel Castro.  The Soviet Union communist dictator Khrushchev threatened to drop an atomic bomb on us if we intervened.  Castro has ruled the Cuba as a brutal dictator ever since, imprisoning or killing those who disagree with him.

In the late 1950s, communism spread to a country only 90 miles from Florida:  Cuba, where we still hold a military base as an artifact of the Spanish-American war under President McKinley.  Recall that America gave Cuba freedom from Spain, but in 1959 the communists moved in with a revolution led by Fidel Castro.  The Soviet Union communist dictator Khrushchev threatened to drop an atomic bomb on us if we intervened.  Castro has ruled the Cuba as a brutal dictator ever since, imprisoning or killing those who disagree with him.