Final answer:
During the Cold War, Americans feared the Soviet Union and communism due to the spread of communism in China, the Korean War, and the political climate in the United States. The U.S. government responded by implementing a policy of containment, leading to a prolonged ideological conflict with the Soviet Union.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Cold War, Americans were afraid of the Soviet Union and communism primarily due to the spread of communism in China, the Korean War, and the political climate in the United States. Western leaders were concerned about the threat of communism because they believed it posed a challenge to their democratic values and way of life.
The U.S. government responded to this fear by adopting a policy of containment, which aimed to prevent the spread of communism beyond Eastern Europe. They formed alliances such as NATO and engaged in military assistance, economic aid, and propaganda to counter Soviet influence.
The outcome of this response was a prolonged ideological and geopolitical conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.
This affected American society and culture as it led to the Red Scare, a period of intense anti-communist sentiment, and the Lavender Scare, which targeted homosexuals as potential security threats. It also influenced U.S. foreign policy, military advancements like the space race, and the civil rights movement.