Final answer:
Tensions regarding the communist threat in America increased during the Second Red Scare, amid revelations of espionage and accusations of government infiltration, coinciding with global events such as China's fall to communism and the Korean War.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tensions about the threat of communists in America were heightened with several key developments, including the Second Red Scare and the rise of anti-communist sentiment during the post-World War II era. The discovery of Soviet espionage within the Manhattan Project and accusations of Communist infiltration within the U.S. State Department by figures such as Senator Joseph McCarthy played significant roles in escalating these tensions. Additionally, geopolitical events like the victory of Communist forces in China and the outbreak of the Korean War further fueled domestic fears of Communism.
As a result, there were demands for loyalty oaths, background investigations, and a general decline in activism due to fears of being labeled a Communist sympathizer. These events occurred within the broader context of a Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union that was increasingly characterized by mutual suspicion and hostility.
The fear of internal subversion led to a culture of suspicion where many Americans were concerned about communists and their potential to overthrow of the government. Consequently, civil liberties were often sidelined in the effort to combat the perceived Communist threat.