The ideological conflict that characterized the relationship between the U.S. and the USSR during the Cold War was primarily rooted in the clash between capitalism and communism. The United States championed capitalism, democracy, and individual freedoms, while the Soviet Union promoted a communist ideology advocating for state control over the economy and a one-party political system. This ideological divide led to periods of intense political tension, arms races, and proxy wars around the globe. The competition for global influence resulted in events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War, as both superpowers sought to expand their respective ideologies in various regions of the world.