Final answer:
Congress' view of Communists during the Cold War period was that they were a significant threat that needed to be contained, leading to numerous steps to oppose and limit communist influence both abroad and within the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The view of Congress regarding Communists at the time reflected a broad consensus that communism needed to be contained and opposed. During the period after World War II, there was significant concern about the expansion of communism on a global scale. Congress, through entities such as the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and the Internal Security Act, took aggressive steps to mitigate what was seen as a rising communist influence. These steps included requiring communist organizations to register with the U.S. government and exercising increased power to investigate sedition. The broader goal was to oppose communist expansion in Europe and Asia, with the belief that communism was antithetical to American values of freedom and democracy.
The perception that Democrats were viewed as being 'soft' on communism during Truman's presidency, coupled with geopolitical events such as the victory of Communist forces in China and the Korean War, led to a situation where few U.S. political leaders wanted to appear lenient towards communism. This sentiment was mirrored in the Soviet Union, leading to an ever-intensifying Cold War, where policies were often evaluated within the context of this ideological struggle. The fear of a domino effect, where one nation falling to communism threatened its neighbors, further escalated the containment efforts of countries practicing capitalism and democracy.