The beginning of the Cold War is often credited to the post-World War II tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. Several key events contributed to this emerging conflict, including differing ideologies—capitalism versus communism—and the competition for global influence. The end of the war left Europe divided, leading to the Iron Curtain, symbolizing the ideological divide. The 1947 Truman Doctrine further solidified this rift by pledging U.S. support to countries resisting communism, while the Marshall Plan sought to rebuild Western European economies, directly opposing Soviet interests. These developments marked the onset of decades of geopolitical tension.