What does Red Scare mean?

The Red Scare refers to two distinct periods in U.S. history characterized by heightened fear of communism and radical leftist ideologies. The first Red Scare occurred after World War I, during the 1910s and early 1920s, fueled by fears of communist revolution and anarchist activities. The second Red Scare took place during the late 1940s and 1950s, primarily driven by concerns over Soviet influence, espionage, and the spread of communism during the Cold War, leading to widespread paranoia and anti-communist sentiments, exemplified by McCarthyism.