USA vs USSR
Both states had many differences:
1a) The USA's most prominent ideology was Capitalism
where people are able to set up private businesses and
make money for themselves. They also value individual
rights and freedom.
1b) The USSR’s most prominent ideology was Communism
where all businesses and factories were owned by the
state and loyalty to the state was valued more than
individual rights or freedom.
2a) The USA also valued Democracy, several political
parties would represent different sectors of society and
governments were chosen by these democratic elections.
2b) The USSR used Dictatorship, and was a one-party
state. There were NO democratic elections and NO
opportunity to change the government by election.
Their positions were different:
(When Paranoia is shown it will be highlighted in yellow)
The USA and Britain had spent 6 years fighting Germany
and did not want another dictator to take control of
Europe. This created a fear that Stalin would treat
Eastern Europe so badly. However, the Soviets wanted to
make sure they didn’t face another invasion like in 1914
where Germany invaded Russia and in 1944, where
Germany invaded the USSR. They had suffered a loss of
28 million soldiers and demanded compensation from
Germany.
In addition, Stalin did not trust the West as they had
fought against the communists in the Civil War in Russia
which lasted from 1918-1921. There was anger that Stalin
, appeared to go back on his word about free elections in
Eastern Europe and many in the West feared that the
USSR wanted to spread its power and take over the West.
In fact, Britain was very angry about the way the USSR
had treated Poland by setting up a pro-communist
government there. In contrast, Stalin believed that Britain
and the USA wanted the USSR and Germany to destroy
each other during the Second World War.
Arms Race:
The Arms Race intensified Cold War tensions between the
USA and the Soviet Union. By 1958, both sides possessed
and perfected weaponry that could destroy the world.
This increased the mutual distrust between the two
countries. The Cuban Missile Crisis showed how distrust
over nuclear weapons can cause conflict.
Detente:
One consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis was the
thaw between the USA and the USSR which had slowly
been removed…
During the naval blockade, twenty Russian ships were
detected heading for Cuba and Khrushchev warned that
Russia would have “a fitting reply to the aggressor”. As
the first Russian ship reached the naval blockade, it was
allowed through because it was an oil tanker with no
missiles on board. The other Russian ships turned back.
Both states had many differences:
1a) The USA's most prominent ideology was Capitalism
where people are able to set up private businesses and
make money for themselves. They also value individual
rights and freedom.
1b) The USSR’s most prominent ideology was Communism
where all businesses and factories were owned by the
state and loyalty to the state was valued more than
individual rights or freedom.
2a) The USA also valued Democracy, several political
parties would represent different sectors of society and
governments were chosen by these democratic elections.
2b) The USSR used Dictatorship, and was a one-party
state. There were NO democratic elections and NO
opportunity to change the government by election.
Their positions were different:
(When Paranoia is shown it will be highlighted in yellow)
The USA and Britain had spent 6 years fighting Germany
and did not want another dictator to take control of
Europe. This created a fear that Stalin would treat
Eastern Europe so badly. However, the Soviets wanted to
make sure they didn’t face another invasion like in 1914
where Germany invaded Russia and in 1944, where
Germany invaded the USSR. They had suffered a loss of
28 million soldiers and demanded compensation from
Germany.
In addition, Stalin did not trust the West as they had
fought against the communists in the Civil War in Russia
which lasted from 1918-1921. There was anger that Stalin
, appeared to go back on his word about free elections in
Eastern Europe and many in the West feared that the
USSR wanted to spread its power and take over the West.
In fact, Britain was very angry about the way the USSR
had treated Poland by setting up a pro-communist
government there. In contrast, Stalin believed that Britain
and the USA wanted the USSR and Germany to destroy
each other during the Second World War.
Arms Race:
The Arms Race intensified Cold War tensions between the
USA and the Soviet Union. By 1958, both sides possessed
and perfected weaponry that could destroy the world.
This increased the mutual distrust between the two
countries. The Cuban Missile Crisis showed how distrust
over nuclear weapons can cause conflict.
Detente:
One consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis was the
thaw between the USA and the USSR which had slowly
been removed…
During the naval blockade, twenty Russian ships were
detected heading for Cuba and Khrushchev warned that
Russia would have “a fitting reply to the aggressor”. As
the first Russian ship reached the naval blockade, it was
allowed through because it was an oil tanker with no
missiles on board. The other Russian ships turned back.
