Final answer:
During the Cold War, people were afraid of nuclear war due to the intense rivalry and stockpiling of nuclear weapons between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cold War was a period of intense rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, characterized by political, military, and economic tensions. While it never escalated into a direct war, people were afraid of the possibility of nuclear war. Both countries had an enormous stockpile of nuclear weapons, and the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.) made the use of these weapons too catastrophic to consider. The fear of nuclear annihilation was a significant concern during the Cold War. People during the Cold War were afraid of nuclear war due to the tensions and arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, which fortunately never escalated into a direct conflict.