The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives established in 1938. Its primary purpose was to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities by individuals and organizations suspected of having ties to the Communist Party or other groups deemed un-American. The committee gained prominence during the early years of the Cold War, particularly in the late 1940s and 1950s. HUAC conducted high-profile hearings that often targeted Hollywood figures, labor leaders, and political activists. Many individuals were blacklisted or faced severe repercussions for refusing to cooperate or testify, leading to a climate of fear and suspicion in American society. The committee was disbanded in 1975, reflecting changing attitudes toward civil liberties and government oversight.