Which historical period was characterized by fear of communism infiltrating American society?

The historical period characterized by a widespread fear of communism infiltrating American society is known as the Cold War. This era, which lasted roughly from the end of World War II in 1945 until the early 1990s, was marked by the ideological conflict between the Soviet Union and its satellite states and the Western powers, particularly the United States. The fear of communism led to various domestic policies, such as McCarthyism, where individuals were accused of being communist sympathizers, often without substantial evidence. This period also prompted numerous government actions aimed at preventing the perceived threat of communism, including loyalty tests for government employees and the promotion of anti-communist propaganda.

In contrast, the Great Depression was primarily an economic crisis during the 1930s, while the Roaring Twenties was a time of cultural and social dynamism, especially in urban areas, rather than fear of communism. The Reconstruction Era followed the American Civil War and focused on rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into society, which was not primarily concerned with the threat of communism.