How they differed
* Political systems: The United States had a democratic political system, while the Soviet Union was ruled by a communist government.
* Economic systems: The United States had a capitalist economy, while the Soviet Union had a command economy.
* Foreign policies: The United States pursued a policy of containment against communism, while the Soviet Union sought to spread communism around the world.
* Military strength: The United States and the Soviet Union were both nuclear powers, and they each had large and powerful militaries.
How they were similar
* Both countries were superpowers: They were the most powerful countries in the world, both economically and militarily.
* Both countries had global ambitions: They both wanted to shape the world order in their own way, and they were both willing to use military force to achieve their goals.
* Both countries had a significant impact on the world: The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was a major factor in shaping the global order during the second half of the 20th century.