Write a paper of 750 to 1100 words (3 to 4 typed, double-spaced pages) analyzing the origins of the Cold War and the competing visions of the United States and the Soviet Union. Consider their different ideological political frameworks and specific points of disagreement.
Following World War II there was fear in the United States that the world was going to be overrun by Communism. The United States and the Soviet Union had different and competing views of Europe following World War II. The Soviet Union, under the leadership of their Premier Joseph Stalin, wanted to maintain control of Eastern Europe and establish Communist governments there that would be loyal to the Soviet Union(OpenStax, 2017). This included the expansion of Communism into not only Europe but into Asia and other developing countries around the world. The United States on the other hand wanted to influence other countries and install democratic governments to further democracy around the world. Europe was the battleground of World War II and so the countries that saw the battles throughout the war were too occupied looking inward towards themselves to repair and rebuild that the United States and the Soviet Union were the last two key players in the game that were able to look towards expansion for the Soviet Union and protection for the United States.
Outside of the political arena of the conflict there was an urge from both sides to have the
best economy, military, and technology. This even culminated in a space race. The Soviet Union launched the first satellite, Sputnik. They also were the first to have a man journey to outer space. The United States was the first to land a man on the moon. Part of the reason that actual direct conflict was avoided and it was more behind the scenes and a
game of chess was the threat of mutually assured destruction or MAD. Due to both being nuclear
