The US was a capitalist democracy, while the USSR was a communist state. They competed ideologically, economically, and militarily, leading to proxy wars and an arms race.

Stalin was a more ruthless and totalitarian leader, focusing on industrialization at any cost. Khrushchev sought some de-Stalinization and improved relations with the West, but still maintained a communist regime.

Capitalism emphasizes private ownership and free markets, while communism advocates for public ownership and a classless society. They represent fundamentally different approaches to economic and political organization.

The Truman Doctrine focused on containing communism through military and political aid, while the Marshall Plan aimed to rebuild Europe economically to prevent the spread of communism.

Post-WWI Europe faced economic hardship and political instability, leading to the rise of extremism. Post-WWII Europe was even more devastated but received significant aid from the US, leading to a different trajectory.

Western Europe received aid from the US and experienced economic recovery. Eastern Europe fell under Soviet influence and experienced communist rule.

The US aimed to contain the spread of communism and promote democracy, while the USSR sought to expand its influence and promote communism.

The US had a capitalist economy with private ownership and free markets, while the USSR had a communist economy with state control and central planning.

The US had a democratic political system with free elections and multiple parties, while the USSR had a totalitarian political system with a single ruling party.

In the US, there was fear of communism and a focus on individual freedoms. In the USSR, there was strict state control and limited personal freedoms.

Causes: unresolved issues from WWI, rise of fascism and Nazism, expansionist policies. Effects: devastation of Europe, emergence of US and USSR as superpowers, beginning of the Cold War.

Causes: perceived threat of communist expansion. Effects: increased tensions between the US and USSR, containment policy, financial aid to anti-communist governments.

Causes: ideological competition, fear of the other superpower gaining an advantage. Effects: constant threat of global annihilation, proxy wars, massive military spending.

Causes: desire for self-determination, resentment of colonial rule. Effects: conflicts, atrocities, redrawing of national borders.

Causes: conflicting ideologies (capitalism vs. communism), emergence of US and USSR as superpowers. Effects: proxy wars, arms race, division of Europe, global political tensions.

Causes: horrors of war, questioning of traditional values. Effects: rise of secularism, existential questioning, changes in social norms.

Causes: widespread destruction, massive war spending. Effects: poverty, social unrest, need for reconstruction aid (e.g., Marshall Plan).

Causes: military and economic strength, weakened European powers. Effects: bipolar world order, Cold War, global ideological competition.

Causes: prevent emigration from East Berlin to West Berlin. Effects: Symbol of the Cold War division, increased tensions between East and West, family separations.

Causes: experience of total war, nuclear threat. Effects: intellectual and artistic movements reflecting anxiety, changes in social values, search for meaning.

Leader of the Soviet Union in the early Cold War years who oversaw massive industrialization and technological advancements, but whose policies also led to famine and poverty.

President of the US who actively opposed communism and implemented the Truman Doctrine, providing aid to nations threatened by communism.

Leader of the Soviet Union from 1953-1964 who improved relations with the West somewhat but also oversaw the construction of the Berlin Wall.