A red scare is a period of heightened public anxiety or fear of a potential overthrow of the government by a communist or socialist movement, often accompanied by a crackdown on suspected communists or socialists. The term "red scare" originated during the First Red Scare, which took place in the United States in the early 20th century. During this period, there were widespread concerns about the rise of communism and anarchism in the United States, and a series of government investigations and prosecutions were launched against suspected communist sympathizers. The Second Red Scare occurred during the Cold War era, particularly during the late 1940s and early 1950s, in the United States and other Western countries, due to the increasing tensions and conflicts between the capitalist and communist blocs.