why did the americans hate/fear commies so much in the 60's?

Answer 1

Constant government propaganda- it's the same reason we hate/fear terrorists now. Marxist communism had high military ambitions, and we were concerned that they might make a bid for world domination.

Answer 2

The terms "commie" and "pinko" became derogatory during the beginning of the Cold War (late 40s to 1991), when the US was in an arms race with the USSR (now Russia). Negative feelings about communism escalated radically during this time (read up on the Cold War for details).

In the 1960s, once people started to disapprove of the war in Vietnam, they were labeled "commies," implying that if one was against the war, one was against the US, and therefore sympathized with the North Vietnamese (i.e. the communist enemy).

Answer 3

I believe it was propaganda, both ours, and the rest of the worlds. As the strongest nation on the planet,the Russians kept pace with us in everything, mainly, weapons technology. Very few people know about the B-49 fiasco, that was where the Russians, under the guise of being our friends, literally stole the design of the worlds most technological aircraft of that era. There's not enough space here to tell the whole story, so I'll give you a glimpse. It was in 1944-45, one of our B-49's and her crew were stranded in Europe due to mechanical problems of some kind, the only way they could get to safety and out of harms way was through Russia. Since they were supposedly our allies they were contacted, a request was made by our Government asking them for landing and assistance, they agreed. Of course the Russians had only heard of the B-49's capabilities, here they had one sitting right in their own front yard. They kept our airmen in the dark about their plot, naturally. They also took their sweet time about releasing our men, when they did, it was by truck, through Iran along secluded back roads, it took a couple of days, but we got our men back. To make this shorter, in record time the Russians launched their version of "OUR" plane, nickname "THE BEAR" by NATO, it was an exact replica of the B-49. Our Government figured it all out, but it was a huge embarrassment. That was enough for the hate part, we only feared they would do something totally destructive,thats why, as kids we hid under our desks during airraid drills. Believe me, there was more than enough storys about the Russians to go around in those years. LATER!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Because it was a genuine threat. Communism was a totalitarian movement, opposed to the Western principles of liberty, and the Communist states wanted the US to fall, because we were the main thing stopping them from taking over the world. And there WERE Communist infiltrators in government; documents obtained after the fall of the Soviet Union proved it. McCarthy and Nixon were actually right.

Answer 5

USSR was a major power in the world. They had their finger on the nuclear button just like us. So the fear on both sides were very heightened.

Answer 6

Because it was a regime that suppressed human rights and freedom, and it was spreading - it had to or it would collapse - that's why we went to Vietnam and Korea - to contain communism, and it worked - Russia is no longer Communist.

Answer 7

Same reason they now hate Muslims. Because they threaten their 'oh so perfect' way of life.

Answer 8

I didn't fear anything in the 60's...oh wait...I wasn't born yet.

Answer 9

Because it was something else they didn't and couldn't understand; the same as it is with Islam today and the same as it will be with something else tomorrow.

Answer 10

well, one reason is because communist Cuba had a bunch of missles aimed right at us.