The correct answer to this open question is the following.
The early Cold War affect life in the US in that it scared teh United States citizens to the degree of thinking that Communist could be instilled in America if the Soviet Union could establish its presence in the US territory.
In those years, Communism was the enemy in the US.
During those tense years, the American people were afraid of a possible attack of the Soviet Union and supported the federal government investment in the military to buy more weapons in order to protect the country.
It also was the time of the Red Scare, when Wisconsin Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy accused that members of the federal government and the military had ties with Communists. That created fear and anger in the American people. People supported conservative actions to combat Communism. In the end, McCarthy did not present any evidence, and he finished his political career in isolation.
