The Origins of the Cold War: Contrasting Ideologies and Pre-War Tensions
The Cold War's roots lie in the fundamental ideological differences between the capitalist USA and communist USSR. These contrasting worldviews shaped their political systems, economies, and global ambitions.
Definition: The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc, which began following World War II.
The USA championed capitalism, emphasizing individual success and the "American Dream." Its system featured:
- Private businesses and profit-making
- A government elected by the people
- A free market economy
In contrast, the USSR embraced communism, based on Karl Marx's ideas:
- One-party state with all others banned
- Government control of the economy
- State ownership of businesses
- Emphasis on wealth equality, despite lower average living standards
Highlight: The ideological differences between U.S. and USSR were fundamental to the Cold War's development and shaped their actions throughout the conflict.
Pre-war distrust stemmed from several factors:
- Stalin's brutal regime and the disappearance of high-profile figures
- Soviet propaganda portraying Western governments as oppressors
- Russia's withdrawal from World War I in 1917
- Western support for anti-communists in the Russian Civil War
Example: The Soviet Union's use of propaganda to portray Western governments as threats to the communist revolution exemplifies the deep-rooted ideological conflict that fueled the Cold War.