Fallout Shelters Fallout Shelters

Day 17Day 17

By: Joe StudentBy: Joe Student

ImportanceImportance

A Fallout Shelter is a structure A Fallout Shelter is a structure designed to allow those inside designed to allow those inside to survive a nuclear blast as to survive a nuclear blast as well as radioactive falloutwell as radioactive fallout

They were constructed during They were constructed during the 1950s after President the 1950s after President Truman informed Americans Truman informed Americans that the Soviets had exploded that the Soviets had exploded an atomic bomban atomic bomb

We need not join the mad rush to purchase an earthly fallout We need not join the mad rush to purchase an earthly fallout shelter.  God is our eternal fallout shelter.  shelter.  God is our eternal fallout shelter. 

~Martin Luther King, Jr., ~Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to LoveStrength to Love, 1963, 1963

3 Main Points3 Main Points

Fallout SheltersFallout Shelters

Federal Civil Defense AdministrationFederal Civil Defense Administration

Popular CulturePopular Culture

Video ClipVideo Clip

Fallout SheltersFallout Shelters Constructed out of concrete and steel and Constructed out of concrete and steel and

sunk in the earth for added protectionsunk in the earth for added protection Included:Included:

canned foodcanned food bottled waterbottled water medical suppliesmedical supplies RadioRadio Geiger counter: indicated radiation intensity with Geiger counter: indicated radiation intensity with

clicks- clicks- chemical toiletchemical toilet

Fallout shelters were portrayed as a realistic Fallout shelters were portrayed as a realistic protection if worst should come to worst. protection if worst should come to worst.

Point 1

Federal Civil Defense Federal Civil Defense Administration Administration

A government agency created in 1951 in response to A government agency created in 1951 in response to the heightened public anxietythe heightened public anxiety Designed to increase both Americans’ optimism and Designed to increase both Americans’ optimism and

their chances for survival in the event of nuclear their chances for survival in the event of nuclear attackattack

Developed evacuation plans for people living near Developed evacuation plans for people living near probable nuclear targets.probable nuclear targets.

Advised communities and schools conduct air-raid Advised communities and schools conduct air-raid drills.drills.

The slogan “Duck and Cover” was taught to children The slogan “Duck and Cover” was taught to children in order to keep safe in the event of an attack. in order to keep safe in the event of an attack.

Point 2

Popular CulturePopular Culture

Popular culture of the late Popular culture of the late 1950’s and 1960’s 1950’s and 1960’s contributed to public concern contributed to public concern about nuclear war; therefore, about nuclear war; therefore, it increased interest in fallout it increased interest in fallout shelters shelters

A best selling novel during A best selling novel during this time featured a portrayal this time featured a portrayal of the nuclear destruction of of the nuclear destruction of both Moscow and New York.both Moscow and New York.

Point 3

ConclusionConclusion They were designed to allow those inside They were designed to allow those inside

to survive a nuclear blast and its likely to survive a nuclear blast and its likely aftermath aftermath

Soviet Atomic Bomb introduced the world Soviet Atomic Bomb introduced the world to the possible nuclear was between the to the possible nuclear was between the two superpowerstwo superpowers

Fallout shelters were portrayed as a Fallout shelters were portrayed as a realistic protection realistic protection

Federal Civil Defense Administration was Federal Civil Defense Administration was created during 1951 as part of Truman’s created during 1951 as part of Truman’s response to the heightened public anxietyresponse to the heightened public anxiety

Popular culture of the late 1950’s and Popular culture of the late 1950’s and 1960’s contributed to public concern about 1960’s contributed to public concern about nuclear war; therefore, it increased nuclear war; therefore, it increased interest in fallout sheltersinterest in fallout shelters

Course ThemeCourse Theme

Change and InnovationChange and Innovation Power, Authority, and LeadershipPower, Authority, and Leadership