Ideological Differences

Activity

Inquiry Question
What was the Cold War, and what were the key differences between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that
set the stage for it?

At the end of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union found themselves disagreeing about
how to deal with Germany in the war's aftermath, as well as differences in ideology (political beliefs
and principles), creating a new tension between the former Allies. Use information collected from the
provided source to both define what the Cold War was, and describe and compare key ideological
differences between the two powers after World War II.

Clarifying Questions
What was the relationship between the U.S. and Soviet Union during World War II?
What is an ideology, and what were the different ideologies of the U.S. and the Soviet Union after
World War II?

Vocabulary
Cold War: period of open hostility between the Soviet Union and the United States following
World War II to 1991, characterized by a power struggle between Soviet communist and U.S.
capitalist ideologies.
ideology: the main idea or philosophy that guides a social movement, institution, or individual.
communism: economic system in which the government controls all aspects of production,
including how much to produce and for whom
capitalism: economic system in which most means of production are privately owned, and
goods, services, and income are distributed through markets.
democracy: system of government in which the people rule, either directly or through
representatives whom they elect.
totalitarianism: system of government that attempts to control all, or most, aspects of its
society.
Soviet Union: The Soviet Union was a federation of communist countries that existed from 1922
until 1991 consisting of 15 countries— Armenia , Azerbaijan , Belarus, Estonia , Georgia ,
Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia , Tajikistan, Turkmenistan , Ukraine ,
and Uzbekistan; the Soviet bloc consisted of the Eastern European nations of Albania, Bulgaria,
Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania, that installed communist
governments after World War II.

Background Information
 and Uzbekistan; the Soviet bloc consisted of the Eastern European nations of Albania, Bulgaria,
Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania, that installed communist
governments after World War II.

Background Information

After the end of World War II there was great promise for peaceable relations among the formerly
Allied Powers of Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union. An important issue that would
impact world relations following the war was the way to handle the futures of Germany and Eastern
Europe. However, differences in economies and political systems between the U.S. and Soviet Union
began to create tensions between the two powers and political disagreements. These differences
threatened the equilibrium of the world altogether, putting in motion a crucial period in history known
as the Cold War. Both former super powers would be on the brink of open warfare for many decades
following the end of World War II as a result.

Source
Reference

Author: ABC-CLIO
Description: This article provides a basic definition of the Cold War and outlines the ideological
differences between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Context and Things to Consider

Consider the definition of a "cold war" and how it differs from a "hot war."
Pay attention to the ideological differences between the U.S. and the Soviet Union as it
relates to economic and political systems.

Cold War Ideological Differences

The Cold War was as much an ideological battle as it was a military struggle. The term itself, coined in
1947, refers to the open struggle for power between the United States and the Soviet Union following
the end of World War II. It describes a conflict that stops short of being a "hot" war and means that it
does not involve the use of military weapons. While the origins of the Cold War begin in the immediate
aftermath of World War II, the origins of the conflict can be traced as far back as the November 1917
Russian Revolution, the Cold War began to take form in late 1945. It did not formally end until
December 1991. Simply put, the Cold War can be defined as a state of mutual hostility, distrust, and
rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This contest soon pitted the capitalist West—and its
allies around the world—against the communist-controlled East and its allies throughout the world.

Economic Systems

A large part of the Cold War "battle" involved competing economic ideologies. The U.S. and the West
touted capitalist economies with limited government control, allowing the free-market system to
Page 2 of 5
regulate most economic activity. In the U.S. capitalist system, property and the means of production
belonged to individuals and companies, and the way that goods were produced, priced, and sold were
determined by the forces of the free market. This meant that which goods were produced and what
they cost was determined by supply and demand, not by the government. By contrast, the Soviet Union
threatened the equilibrium of the world altogether, putting in motion a crucial period in history known
as the Cold War. Both former super powers would be on the brink of open warfare for many decades
following the end of World War II as a result.

Source
Reference

Author: ABC-CLIO
Description: This article provides a basic definition of the Cold War and outlines the ideological
differences between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Context and Things to Consider

Consider the definition of a "cold war" and how it differs from a "hot war."
Pay attention to the ideological differences between the U.S. and the Soviet Union as it
relates to economic and political systems.

Cold War Ideological Differences

The Cold War was as much an ideological battle as it was a military struggle. The term itself, coined in
1947, refers to the open struggle for power between the United States and the Soviet Union following
the end of World War II. It describes a conflict that stops short of being a "hot" war and means that it
does not involve the use of military weapons. While the origins of the Cold War begin in the immediate
aftermath of World War II, the origins of the conflict can be traced as far back as the November 1917
Russian Revolution, the Cold War began to take form in late 1945. It did not formally end until
December 1991. Simply put, the Cold War can be defined as a state of mutual hostility, distrust, and
rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This contest soon pitted the capitalist West—and its
allies around the world—against the communist-controlled East and its allies throughout the world.

Economic Systems

A large part of the Cold War "battle" involved competing economic ideologies. The U.S. and the West
touted capitalist economies with limited government control, allowing the free-market system to
regulate most economic activity. In the U.S. capitalist system, property and the means of production
belonged to individuals and companies, and the way that goods were produced, priced, and sold were
determined by the forces of the free market. This meant that which goods were produced and what
they cost was determined by supply and demand, not by the government. By contrast, the Soviet Union
and the other countries in its sphere of influence were communist, not capitalist. In the communist
economic system, the means of production and resources were owned and controlled by the
government, and therefore the public. There was no private property, and the government determined
what goods were produced, who produced them, and who received them. This fundamental difference
between the ideologies of communism and capitalism was one of the core elements in the struggle
between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Political Systems Page 3 of 5

Another major difference between the U.S. and the Soviet Union lay in their competing political
ideologies. The U.S. and its western allies generally represented popularly elected, multiparty
governments. These democratic governments usually consisted of representatives chosen in free and
between the ideologies of communism and capitalism was one of the core elements in the struggle
between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Political Systems

Another major difference between the U.S. and the Soviet Union lay in their competing political
ideologies. The U.S. and its western allies generally represented popularly elected, multiparty
governments. These democratic governments usually consisted of representatives chosen in free and
fair elections by citizens, who could choose representatives from multiple political parties formed by
the people. In contrast, the Soviet Union was a totalitarian dictatorship. Power was concentrated in the
hands of a dictator and the leaders of a single party: the Communist Party. In elections, voters largely
had no other option but to choose the candidate offered by the Communist Party, giving citizens little
or no say in who represented their interests and desires in government.

Individual Rights

The limited choice offered by the Soviet Union's political system extended into the realm of individual
rights. The Communist Party suppressed freedom of speech and punished dissent, such as in the Great
Purge under dictator Joseph Stalin, when at least 750,000 people were executed and more than a
million more sent to forced labor camps as punishment for perceived or actual opposition to the
communist government. Under the Soviet Union, rights to private property, civil liberties, and freedom
of political, literary, and scientific expression were severely censored or suppressed. In the United
States, individual rights such as freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion and the protection of
due process were guaranteed under the Constitution, though such rights had historically been violated
for certain groups of people before the enactment of constitutional reforms. The U.S. system
emphasized individual initiative, personal and collective rights, and private property, but in communist
regimes, the idea of individual initiative was alien. Instead, the emphasis was on collective
collaboration among the population. The struggle between the U.S. and Soviet Union to spread their
respective economic, political, and individual values formed the basis of the animosity between the
two world superpowers. Thus, the Cold War symbolized two completely different ways of life.

MLA Citation

"World War II and the Cold War Era, 1939-1960 Activity: Ideological Differences." American History,
ABC-CLIO, 2023, americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Support/InvestigateActivity/2216870. Accessed 27 Oct.
2023.

COPYRIGHT 2023 ABC-CLIO, LLC

This content may be used for non-commercial, educational purposes only.

https://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Support/InvestigateActivity/2216870

Page 4 of 5
collaboration among the population. The struggle between the U.S. and Soviet Union to spread their
respective economic, political, and individual values formed the basis of the animosity between the
two world superpowers. Thus, the Cold War symbolized two completely different ways of life.

MLA Citation

"World War II and the Cold War Era, 1939-1960 Activity: Ideological Differences." American History,
ABC-CLIO, 2023, americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Support/InvestigateActivity/2216870. Accessed 27 Oct.
2023.

COPYRIGHT 2023 ABC-CLIO, LLC

This content may be used for non-commercial, educational purposes only.

https://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Support/InvestigateActivity/2216870

Page 5 of 5
 Name
Name
Class
Class

Was Aaron Burr a Traitor?

​CollectUnderstanding the Cold War

and Organize Information
Compare and Contrast
Present your own argument claiming whether or not Aaron Burr was a traitor
Inquiry Question
to the U.S.
At the end of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union found
themselves disagreeing about how to deal with Germany in the war’s
aftermath, as well as differences in ideology (political beliefs and
Inquiry
Type Question principles),
2-col, creating a new tension between the former Allies. Use
1 row table
information collected from the provided sources to both define what the
Headings Cold Headings:
Column War was, Evidence:
and describe and
Guilty, compare
Evidence: key ideological differences
Innocent.
between the two powers after World War II.
Other Notes there's too much evidence on either side for the #7 layout to cover it all
Definition of the Cold War

United States Soviet Union

Economic
System

Political
System

Individual
Rights

©2020 ABC-CLIO, LLC

 Name
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what werethe power of the two-party system
InquiryQuestion
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the United States, and how did some view the political
and the Soviet Union that set the stage for it? situation of the time?

Response

©2020 ABC-CLIO, LLC