This Week in the Cold War - The Rosenbergs

This Week's Historical Theme: The Cold War

April 5 1951

A significant event throughout the history of the Cold War that occurred in April is the sentencing of the Rosenbergs. In the most sensational spy trial in American history, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death, convicted of playing a central role in a spy ring that passed secret data concerning the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. Their role in espionage came to light in a chain of arrests that started with British physicist Klaus Fuchs who was arrested in 1950. He was questioned and his implications eventually led to David Greenglass who pointed the finger at his sister and brother-in-law, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. Greenglass later told New York Times journalist Sam Roberts, that he had entered into a deal with the US government, implicating his sister, Ethel, in exchange for his wife's immunity.

After a brief trial in March 1951, they were found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage, although the couple proclaimed their innocence. The Rosenbergs and their attorneys continued to argue that they were "victims of political hysteria". Humanitarian organisations in the United States and around the world pleaded for leniency, particularly since they were the parents of two young children. The pleas for special consideration were ignored. At their sentencing hearing on April 5 1951, Federal judge Irving R. Kaufman described their crime as "worse than murder" and stated "By your betrayal you undoubtedly have altered the course of history to the disadvantage of our country." He then sentenced them to death and they were executed on June 19 1953 making them the only spies executed during the Cold War. Whether they were guilty or not has been in dispute for more than half a century.

Want to find out more about why the Rosenbergs were executed? Click here for more information, or here for more about espionage in the Cold War.

November 14 - The United States Announces Support for Yugoslavia

This Day in History: 14 November 2020

 

14 November 1951

 

69 years ago, today, the United States announced its plan to give military and economic aid to communist Yugoslavia. The action was part of the US policy to drive a further wedge between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. Even though the United States had supported Josip Broz Tito during World War II, as Cold War hostilities set in, US policy toward Yugoslavia hardened. Tito was viewed simply as another tool of Soviet expansion into eastern and southern Europe. However, in 1948, Tito broke with Stalin, but still continued to proclaim his allegiance to communist ideology.

 

In order to win Tito's favour, the United States supported Yugoslavia's efforts in 1949 to gain a seat at the United Nations. In 1951, President Truman asked Congress to provide economic and military assistance to Yugoslavia, which was granted. Nevertheless, Tito continued to support the Soviet Union, as in 1956, he supported the Soviet invasion of Hungary. Even though the United States admired Tito's independence, sometimes he could be too independent. The American officials were concerned in the 1950s and 1960s when Tito encouraged and supported the nonalignment movement among Third World nations, as the Americans were intent on forcing those nations to choose sides in the Cold War.

 

Want to find out more about Yugoslavia in the Cold War? Click here for more information, or here for more about Tito.

November 3 - The USSR Sends the First Animal into Space

This Day in History: 3 November 2020

 

3 November 1957

 

63 years ago, today, the Soviet Union launched the first animal into space, a dog named Laika, aboard the 'Sputnik 2' spacecraft. Laika was part Siberian husky, who had lived as a stray on the Moscow streets before being enlisted into the Soviet space program. She survived for several days as a passenger in the Soviet Union's second artificial Earth satellite, kept alive by a sophisticated life-support system. Electrodes were attached to her body, and enabled scientists on the ground to gain important information about the biological effects of space travel. Sadly, Laika died after the batteries of her life-support system ran down.

 

In the next few years, at least a dozen more Russian dogs were launched into space in preparation for the first manned Soviet space mission, and at least five of these dogs died in transit. Other non-human animals that have been launched into space include monkeys, apes, cats, tortoises, mice, frogs and insects. Seven national space programs have flown animals into space: the Soviet Union, the United States, France, Argentina, China, Japan, and Iran. In April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to ever travel into space, aboard the spacecraft 'Vostok 1'. He orbited Earth before he landed safely back in the USSR.

 

Want to find out more about the history of animals in space? Click here for more information, or here for more about Laika.

October 29 - The Suez Crisis Begins

This Day in History: 29 October 2020

 

29 October 1956

 

64 years ago, today, the Suez Crisis began when Israel invaded Egypt. They would soon be joined by French and British forces, initiating a serious event during the Cold War in the Middle East. The joint attack had been motivated by Egypt's nationalisation of the Suez Canal in July. Prior to this, also, the Egyptian military had been pressuring the British to end their military presence in the canal zone. The Egyptian leader, General Nasser, had also been engaged in sporadic battles with Israeli soldiers along both nations' border. Nasser did nothing to hide his hostility towards the Zionist nation.

 

After the Israelis attacked, they were shocked to find that British and French forces did not immediately follow behind them. Instead of a lightning strike by overwhelming force, the attack simmered down, and the United Nations quickly passed a resolution calling for a cease-fire. The Soviet Union began to issue ominous threats about coming to Egypt's aid, and a dangerous situation developed. The United States sternly warned the Soviet Union to stay out of the situation, but also pressured the British, French and Israeli governments to withdraw. In late 1956 and early 1957, they did so, ending the Suez Crisis.

 

Want to find out more about the Suez Crisis? Click here for more information, or here for more about General Nasser and Israel.

October 10 - President Eisenhower Apologises to Ghanaian Finance Minister

This Day in History: 10 October 2020

 

10 October 1957

 

63 years ago, today, President Dwight D. Eisenhower apologised to the Ghanaian Finance Minister, Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, inviting him to breakfast at the White House. He had been refused service at a restaurant in Dover, Delaware. It was one of the first of many such incidents where African diplomats were confronted with racial segregation in the United States. Even though the matter may appear rather small compared to other events during the Cold War, the racial slights to African and Asian diplomats during the 1950s and 60s were of high concern to US officials. During those decades, the Soviet Union and the United States were competing for the hearts and favour of millions of people in Asia and Africa.

 

Racial discrimination in America, especially when it was directed at representatives from those continents, was coined as the nation's 'Achilles' heel'. During the early 1960s, matters continued to deteriorate as many diplomats from new nations in Africa and Asia faced housing discrimination in Washington, DC. A series of confrontations in restaurants, barbershops and other businesses in and around the area made it clear that American civil rights had become an international issue.

 

Want to find out more about President Eisenhower's apology to Gbedemah? Click here for more information, or here for a video of more about the apology.

September 12 - Marriage of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier

This Day in History: 12 September 2020

 

12 September 1953

 

67 years ago, today, Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy, the future president, married Jacqueline Bouvier in St Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island. Seven years later, the two would become the youngest president and first lady in American history. Jackie wore an ivory silk gown that had been made by Ann Lowe, an African-American designer. Around 750 guests attended the Catholic mass, and an additional 450 people joined the wedding reception held at Hammersmith Farm. The couple danced to the Meyer David Orchestra's version of 'I Married An Angel'. David had also performed at Jackie's parents' wedding and at Kennedy's inaugural ball.

Jackie was born into a prominent family in 1929 and grew up as a horsewoman and reader. In 1951, after graduating from George Washington University, she took a tour of Europe, before she began her first job as the 'inquiring camera girl' for the Washington Times-Herald. Soon afterwards, she met John Kennedy at a dinner party in Georgetown. They began to date for the next two years, during which Jackie feared she would marry a man allergic to horses, something she never thought to consider. In 1953, the two were engaged when Kennedy gave Jackie a diamond-and-emerald ring from Van Cleef and Arpels.

Want to find out more about the marriage of John and Jackie? Click here for more information, or here for more about the life of Jaqueline.

The History of Homework

Homework is the bane of my life. I always end up sitting in my study every day trying to work through a mountain of it, only to find that I get another hundred pieces when I turn up at school the next day. So, naturally, I decided to write a blog entry about it. I was a little disappointed when I couldn’t find anything about the history of homework in the UK, so I’m afraid that you’ll have to settle for how homework came about in America.

Traditionally, homework was frowned upon in America as few people went into higher education and their parents wanted them to do chores instead (I still have to do chores anyway). This caused California to abolish homework in 1901 for anyone in kindergarden (Year 1) to the eighth grade (Year 9). However, America’s involvement in the Cold War managed to bring back this form of mental torture. Oh yes, in order to keep up with their Russian counterparts, homework made a comeback in the 1950s and by the 1990s, homework was seen as a good thing for students of all ages.

So as you’ve all probably guessed, I’m now wishing that I was born in the 1900s in California so that I no longer have to procrastinate because of my homework (apart from History homework of course).

P.S. If you're wondering where the excuse 'The dog ate my homework' came from, here's your answer!

JG

Skateboarding

One of my favourite hobbies when I’m not locked in my study doing homework is going skateboarding. If you are one of my nearest and dearest and you are reading this, please do NOT ask me to show you as I will probably fall flat on my face and end up in A&E. Moving swiftly on, I decided that I am going to combine two of my favourite things so that you will hopefully have an interesting article to read. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, today I am going to bore you with the history of skateboarding (I’m joking, you better find this interesting)!

Skateboarding is quite vintage considering that it originated in the late 1940s/early 1950s. It came about because Californian surfers wanted something to ‘surf’ when the waves were flat. Apparently, no specific person invented the skateboard, it was created by many individuals at around the same time. Originally, skateboards were boxes on wheels which gradually evolved into a board on wheels. The first proper skateboard sold from a shop was in Los Angeles, California. By the 1960s, the number of shops had grown substantially and there were many skateboarding shops in South California. In the coming years, the design of the skateboards were improved and in the 1970s skateparks were constructed from skaters to practice tricks. Then, in the 1980s, the main focus was on doing tricks on these ramps. After that, during the 1990s, street skateboarding came about. It gained popularity and that’s about it. 

So now I hope you know a little bit more about skateboarding which is actually a lot harder than it looks!

JG