What term describes the widespread fear of communism in the United States after World War I?

The term that describes the widespread fear of communism in the United States after World War I is "Red Scare." This phenomenon occurred primarily in the years following the war, particularly between 1917 and 1920, due to a combination of events such as the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the rise of labor strikes, and various incidents of political unrest. The fear was characterized by a heightened anxiety that communism would spread, threatening the established social and political order in the U.S.

During the Red Scare, there was a significant focus on the potential influence of socialist and communist ideologies and the fear that these could infiltrate American institutions. This period led to government actions, including investigations, deportations, and the establishment of the Palmer Raids, which targeted suspected radicals.

While the other terms—Cold War, McCarthyism, and Blue Panic—relate to fears or events linked to communism as well, they do so in different contexts. The Cold War refers to the broader geopolitical tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union after World War II. McCarthyism specifically pertains to the anti-communist sentiments and actions, primarily in the 1950s, associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy, which were