During the Cold War, which ideology was the primary concern for the United States?

During the Cold War, the primary concern for the United States was Communism. This period, which lasted roughly from the late 1940s to the early 1990s, was characterized by intense political, military, and ideological rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, which was the leading Communist power at the time.

The primary fear was that Communism, an ideology advocating for the collective ownership of resources and the absence of class divisions, could spread beyond its borders and undermine democratic governments worldwide. The United States viewed Communism as a direct threat to its own democratic and capitalist values. This fear motivated U.S. foreign policy, leading to initiatives such as the Truman Doctrine, which aimed to contain the spread of Communism in various parts of the world, and the establishment of NATO to defend against potential Soviet aggression.

The ideological battle between capitalism, which promotes private property and free enterprise, and communism was a key characteristic of the era, driving the United States to engage in various conflicts, including the Korean War and the Vietnam War, in an effort to prevent the expansion of Communist influence. Therefore, Communism stands out as the primary ideological concern for the United States during the Cold War.