American Social and Political Movements of the 20th Century: Rethinking the American Antinuclear Movement

The massive movement against nuclear weapons began with the invention of the atomic bomb in 1945 and lasted throughout the Cold War. Antinuclear protesters of all sorts mobilized in defiance of the move toward nuclear defense in the wake of the Cold War. They influenced U.S. politics, resisting the mindset of nuclear deterrence and mutually-assured destruction. The movement challenged Cold War militarism and restrained leaders who wanted to rely almost exclusively on nuclear weapons for national security. Ultimately, a huge array of activists decided that nuclear weapons made the country less secure, and that, through testing and radioactive fallout, they harmed the very people they were supposed to protect. Rethinking the American Antinuclear Movement provides a short, accessible overview of this important social and political movement, highlighting key events and figures, the strengths and weaknesses of the activists, and its lasting effects on the country. It is perfect for anyone wanting to obtain an introduction to the American antinuclear movement and the massive reach of this transnational concern. Cover Title Copyright Contents Editor's Series Introduction Acknowledgments Introduction 1 Making and Questioning the Bomb, 1933 to 1945 2 The Cold War and Challenges to the Bomb, 1945 to 1949 3 A Bigger Bomb and a Bigger Movement, 1950 to 1960 4 Women Transform the Movement, 1960 to 1963 5 Antinuclear Evolution and Diffusion, 1963 to 1980 6 The Antinuclear Uprising, 1980 to 1985 7 The End of the Cold War and the Fate of Nuclear Protest, 1985 to the Present Further Reading Index