After World War II there seemed to be a dichotomy that permeated America culture and society. People celebrated the end of the war with the optimism that the worst was behind them and only good things lay in store. But this cheery face could only be a facade because the world had changed.   All men now knew that mankind was capable of the ultimate atrocity...mass murder.  As the horror of the concentration camps became front page news everyone knew that Hitler and his Germany had annihilated millions of people. In order to end the war, the United States was the first country to use nuclear power and " weapons of mass destruction" It was now common knowledge that entire cities and perhaps countries could be wiped out with the push of one button.

How did the world cope with the development of the Cold War and the underlying fear of eminent mass destruction?  The answer is Escapism. 

Take a look at our other curriculum web sites found at www.curriculumunits.com