Samantha Toomey
Ms. Bonner
March 1st, 2013
The relationship between The United States and The Soviet Union after World War II was tense. This time was known as The Cold War. Although the two countries were allies during the war, they soon became enemies. Each country was trying to build up their nuclear arms and wanted to know what the other had in their arsenal. Although both countries had their share of spies, two very famous spies from the Soviet Union were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Julius Rosenberg was born on May 12, 1918 in New York City. After attending high school and the City College of New York, he graduated in 1939 with a degree in electrical engineering. Less than a year later, he married Ethel Greenglass and had two sons, Michael and Robert. Ethel was born on born September 28, 1915 in New York. The two met at the Young Communist League, which Julius was a leader in 1936 and later on they both joined the American Communist Party. Ethel worked as a secretary and Julius worked at a company until 1945 when Julius was fired from his job because he was suspected of being part of the American Communist Party, when in fact, he and Ethel dropped out of the party in 1943 so they could focus on Julius’s espionage doings. Julius Rosenberg was arrested on June 17th, 1950 for suspicion on espionage. His brother in law, David Greenglass gave his name when he confessed to espionage and was arrested. David also gave the name of his wife but not yet of Ethel. Ethel wasn’t arrested until August 11th. Although many people they were involved with gave names of other spies, the Rosenberg’s didn’t give any names. The FBI though Julius was “just the next in a row of falling dominoes, but unlike the dominoes in line before him, Julius did not tip over”(law2.umkc.edu).They were arrested for telling secrets to the soviet union. They were also involved with the Manhattan Project, the “top-secret effort of Allied scientists to develop
Cited: “Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed.” 2013. The History Channel website. Feb 13 2013 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/julius-and-ethel-rosenberg-executed Roberts, Sam. "Julius and Ethel Rosenberg | Biography | atomicarchive.com." atomicarchive.com: Exploring the History, Science, and Consequences of the Atomic Bomb. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www.atomicarchive.com/Bios/Rosenberg.shtml “Cold War.” 2013. The History Channel website. Feb 13 2013, http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war.y 12, 1918, in New York City.