In the United States, the vast majority of atomic tests occurred at the Nevada Test Site. In the military and technological arena of the anxious Cold War environment, the U.S. detonated various types of atomic devices--from bombs to artillery shells--at the NTS to assess their worth and effectiveness on the battlefield. These tests represented American might in the face of what many considered to be the threat of communist aggression. Politically, they served both to deter attack from abroad and to reassure an anxious American population of its nation's strength.
Just as the Cold War provided the rationale for the physical existence of the Test Site, it also influenced the mindsets of those that worked there. From administrators to construction workers, one can see a sense of a larger purpose justifying their decision to work at the test site. Many subsequently viewed themselves--whether building a structure, boring a tunnel, or overseeing a test--as active participants in the Cold War.
In the newspaper articles and oral histories that follow, look for examples of Cold War influence on workers' mentalities. See also if you notice the influence of such ideas in their response to other, more personal issues.
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