During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

The primary concern of the United States during the Cold War was the spread of communism. This period, spanning from the late 1940s to the early 1990s, was defined by intense geopolitical rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. The U.S. viewed the expansion of communism, particularly as promoted by the Soviet Union, as a significant threat to democratic societies and capitalism around the world. This concern led to various U.S. foreign policies aimed at containment, which included a range of strategies from military alliances, such as NATO, to economic aid programs, like the Marshall Plan, intended to stabilize nations that were vulnerable to communist influence.

The other options, though relevant to different contexts, did not represent the central preoccupation of U.S. policy during the Cold War. Economic recession occurred occasionally but was not an overarching concern; rather, it was often viewed through the lens of how it might exacerbate issues related to communism. Environmental issues began to gain prominence later in the 20th century and were not central to Cold War tensions. Globalization, while evolving during this time, was not a primary concern for U.S. policymakers in the same way that the threat of communism was. Understanding this context highlights why