The impact of the Second Red Scare on U.S. society was profound and multifaceted. This period, roughly spanning the late 1940s through the 1950s, was characterized by intense fear of communism and widespread paranoia regarding potential communist infiltration into American institutions. The government responded with laws aimed at rooting out supposed communist sympathizers, leading to the establishment of loyalty oaths and investigations by organizations like the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Many individuals faced blacklisting in Hollywood and other industries, resulting in ruined careers and lives. This era also fostered a climate of suspicion, restrictiveness in political discourse, and the prioritization of national security over civil liberties, shaping the cultural landscape for decades.