1939-1945: How did it get to the point where the world was split so the US and Russia had a half each?

During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union were fighting together against Germany, Japan, and Italy. However, by the end of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as chief rivals. Each country had a different political and economic system. The United States had a democratic form of government and a capitalist economy based on market forces and the freedom of individuals to make decisions. The Soviet Union...

During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union were fighting together against Germany, Japan, and Italy. However, by the end of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as chief rivals. Each country had a different political and economic system. The United States had a democratic form of government and a capitalist economy based on market forces and the freedom of individuals to make decisions. The Soviet Union had a communist political and economic system. The government had a lot of control over the economic and political system. There was little freedom of choice for the individual, both economically and politically.

When World War II ended, each side wanted to see its political and economic system in place throughout the world. In the areas that the Soviet Union controlled, the communist system was implemented. We were supporting countries that had more freedom of choice politically and economically. When the Soviet Union tried to spread communism in Europe and in Asia, we tried to prevent that from happening. We opposed the attempts of the Soviet Union to spread communism into Western Europe and into South Korea. This led to the start of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.