Red Scares

Definition

Red scares refer to periods of intense anti-communist sentiment and fear within the United States. These episodes were characterized by heightened suspicion, political persecution, and efforts to identify and remove suspected communists or communist sympathizers from society.

Related terms

McCarthyism: A term used to describe the tactics employed by Senator Joseph McCarthy during the second red scare in the 1950s, which involved making unsubstantiated accusations against alleged communists.

HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee): A congressional committee established in 1938 that investigated alleged disloyalty and subversive activities related to communism in various sectors of American society.

Cold War: The geopolitical tension between the United States and Soviet Union from 1947 to 1991 that involved competition for influence without direct military conflict.