During the Cold War, what was the primary concern of the United States?

The primary concern of the United States during the Cold War was communism. This period, which roughly spanned from the end of World War II in 1945 to the early 1990s, was characterized by significant political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, the two superpowers of the time. The U.S. government and its allies viewed communism as a direct threat to democracy and capitalism, leading to efforts to contain its spread around the globe.

The policy of containment, which aimed to prevent the expansion of communism, shaped U.S. foreign policy decisions and actions. This included involvement in various conflicts, the establishment of military alliances such as NATO, and the support of anti-communist regimes and movements worldwide. The fear of communist influence led to a pervasive ideology that resulted in significant social and political ramifications, both domestically and internationally.

In contrast, fascism, globalization, and isolationism did not define U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War in the same way as communism. Fascism was primarily associated with earlier conflicts, such as World War II, while globalization emerged more prominently in later decades. Isolationism, which refers to a national policy of avoiding entanglement in international alliances and