What was the primary concern of the United States during the Cold War?

The primary concern of the United States during the Cold War was communism. This period, which lasted roughly from the end of World War II until the early 1990s, was characterized by intense geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies. The U.S. feared the spread of communism as it was seen as a direct threat to democracy and capitalism, which are foundational to American society.

The Cold War included various strategies and conflicts aimed at containing the influence of communist ideology, believing that if one nation fell to communism, others in the region would follow—a concept often referred to as the "Domino Theory." This led to U.S. involvement in various conflicts around the world, such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War, which were seen as critical battlegrounds in the fight against communism.

Racial equality, fascism, and imperialism, while significant issues in different contexts, were not the main focus of U.S. policy during the Cold War era as prominently as the fear and opposition to communism. Therefore, the concern about the spread of communism was central to U.S. foreign and domestic policy throughout this contentious historical period.