Transcript Alas Babylon Powerpoint

Alas, Babylon
Background
Notes
Alas, Babylon was written in
1959 by Pat Frank, who worked
for many years as a war
correspondent. His real name
was Harry Hart but he wrote
under a pseudonym.
Alas, Babylon
is a postapocalyptic
novel, which
means that it
takes place
after a major
catastrophe.
The novel expresses the
fears and concerns that
Americans had during the
Cold War.
The Cold War refers to a
time of tension and hostility
between the United States
and The Soviet Union.
It was called the “Cold”
War because it never led
to direct military
intervention or battle.
After World War II, the United States wanted to spread
Democracy throughout the world, but they feared that the Soviet
Union would spread Communism to other countries.
Wars like Vietnam and Korea were fought to prevent the spread
of Communism.
The United States feared that if these countries became
Communist, other countries would follow. They called this The
Domino Theory.
The Cold War was not fought with bombs
or guns. It was fought with spies and
technology.
During World War II, Soviet spies
infiltrated the Manhattan Project, which
was the scientific project that led to the
development of the atomic bomb.
Sometimes the 1950s is
referred to as The Atomic Age
because the world had just seen
the power of the Atomic Bomb.
Nuclear blasts could have
devastating effects.
When an atom bomb
explodes, it releases “fallout”.
Fallout consists of small
particles that settle on the
ground and contain radiation.
“Radiation” is a type of highly
concentrated atomic energy that
can have devastating effects on
anything it touches.
As tension increased between the
Soviet Union and the United
States, people became more
afraid of attack.
Students had to do Air Raid Drills
where they were told to “Duck and
Cover.”
The government also funded the construction of fallout
shelters, where people could hide in case of a nuclear
attack.
In the 1950s, The Americans began
to fear the the country had been
infiltrated by Communists and
Soviet spies.
J. Edgar Hoover, the Director
of the FBI, began a crusade to
find “subversives.”
Senator Joseph McCarthy (RWisconsin) joined J. Edgar
Hoover in his search to eliminate
Soviet spies. This led to a series
of trials prosecuting suspected
Communist agitators.
These trials were called the
“McCarthy Trials” and led to the
“Red Scare.”
Sputnik
What the Soviets thought it was:
What Americans thought it was:
What it really was:
Americans were afraid of
Sputnik for three reasons:
1.) They were afraid that
Russia could use Sputnik to
spy on the United States.
2.) If Russia has the
technology to go into space,
they may also have the
technology to bomb the
United States or worse.
3.) The United States believed
that if the Soviets controlled
space, they could also control
the world.
The Cold War officially ended
in 1989 when the Berlin Wall,
which was erected after WWII
to separate Soviet East Berlin
and Allied West Berlin, was
torn down.
Final Thoughts
Alas Babylon was really scary to people in the
1950’s because they thought it was a glimpse
into the future. The fears in this book are the
same fears all Americans had at the time: a
possible attack by the Soviet Union. Pat Frank
was using the current political turmoil to his
advantage. Since then, this book has become a
classic in the “post apocalyptic” genre.
Strategic Air Command
“World War II left in its wake a conflict in ideology
between the United States and the Soviet Union
that quickly escalated into what became known
as the “Cold War.” Toward deterring aggression,
the U. S. built a vast nuclear arsenal, most of it
under the control of the Strategic Air Command.
The Soviet premier banged his shoe on the
United Nation’s podium and screamed wildly at
the American ambassador, “We will bury you.”
SAC had over a thousand jet bombers that dared
them to try.”
http://www.strategic-air-command.com/intro/SAC-Intro.htm