Question

How did the early Cold War affect life in the US?

Answer 1

Hint: The Cold War was a period of pressure between the United States and the Soviet Union. It was a phase of uncertainty and terror to the Americans.

Complete answer:
The Cold War was a war of distinct ideologies and the world was in a fear of uncertainty from the end of World War II till the dissolution of USSR and end of the Cold war. The arms race between the two superpowers created tensions and panic and the lives of Americans were affected with many dilemmas.
The possibility of nuclear destruction emerged after witnessing the tests of nuclear weapons of both nations. The Cold War moulded American foreign policy and political ideology as well as it impacted the domestic economy. Extensive and unprecedented levels of military spending and an increase in defence budget were other ways America got affected.
Involvement of America’s military in a number of real wars like the Korean War and the Vietnam War also affected life in America. Tens of thousands of American soldiers were killed in these wars.
The fear of communist subversion, known as Red Scare, affected Americans during this period. The fear of a potential espionage to limit civil liberties was also a way that made life of Americans in a horrible situation.

Note: The Cold War led to high-level spending on military research, which helped America to develop many of the advanced technologies. As a positive aspect, today those technological inventions are a part of everyday life such as the GPS system, advanced computers and the internet (developed at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency).