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isolationism had effectively ended, and, economically, the United States had become the world’s most powerful nation. at home, organized labor had achieved a strong foothold; African Americans and women, having tasted equality during Wartine labor shortages, had developed aspirations and the means of achieving the goals that these groups had lacked before the War. The American Communist Party possessed an unparalleled confidence, while Overseas the Soviet Union strengthened its grasp on the countries it had wrested from German occupation--making it plain that its ‘plans to expand Communist influence had not abated. And hanging over the euphoria of a world once more at peace was the mushroon cloud of atomic weaponry. POSTWAR AMERICA In February 1946 Stalin gave a public address in which he implied that future wars were inevitable until Communism replaced capitalism worldwide. Events in Europe and North America convinced Congress that Stalin was well on his Way to achieving his coal. The Russian veto prevented the United Nations from curbing Soviet €éxpansion under its auspices. Americans feared Communist expansion was not limited to Europe. By 1947, ample evidence existed that pre-Sovietr individuals had infiltrated the American Government. In June, 1945, the FBI raided the offices of Amerasia, a magazine concerned With the Far East, and discovered a large number of classified State Department documents. Several] months later the Canadians arrested 22 people for trying to steal atomic secrets. Previously, Americans felt secure behind their monopoly of the atomic bomb. Fear of a Russian bomb now came to dominate American thinking. The Soviets detonated their own bomb in 1949, ct Counteracting the Communist threat became a paramoun focus of government at all levels, as well as the private sector. While U.S. foreign .policy concentrated on defeating Cenmnunis expansion abroad, many U.S. citizens sought to cGefeat the Communis: threat at home. The American Communist Party worked throuch fron organizations or influenced other Americans who egreec with their current propaganda ("fellow travelers"). » Since 1917, the FBI ang its predecessor agencies had investigated Suspected acts of espionage and sabotage. In 163¢ ane égain in 1943, Presidential directives had authorized the FBI to carry out investigations of threats to national security. This role was clarified ana expanded under Presidents Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Any public or private agency or individual with information about subversive activities was urged to report it to the FBI. A poster to that éffect was distributed to police = Gepartments throughout the country. At the same time, it warned 10