How did the Cold War affect the social and political climate

How did the Cold War affect the social and political climate.
How did the Cold War affect the social and political climate in the United States during the 1950s? In particular, how do you explain McCarthyism and the Red Scare? Can you think of any modern parallels to these events, when fear and paranoia threatened basic American liberties? Elaborate. Everyone, If you had to tie me down and pin point one area of history that I have spent more time on than any other .it would really be the time period of 1930 to today but with special emphasis on World War II, Korea and Vietnam. In fact, until recently I taught the Vietnam course, but sadly for my students and for ME they dropped this course, as for me that was the most fun I have ever had in the discussion threads with students. This was was the war of my youth I lost friends in this war but also have a special connection to the veterans of this war and some wonderful stories I could have told all of you, especially about my one friend who was a medic in Vietnam. I will tell some of them this week, but unfortunately not all of them, as it took 8 weeks in the other course to get through everything. OK we will get into this more this week so now the question How did a local struggle in Vietnam turn into a major event of the Cold War? What differing opinions did Americans have about U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War? Do you think the U.S. was justified in going to Vietnam? Elaborate.
How did the Cold War affect the social and political climate