The social political differences between the United States and the Soviet Union played a role in the rising tensions during the cold war. The United States was typically a capitalist nation while the Soviet Union a communist nation. In the capitalist U.S, citizens were able to own land and competition in business was encouraged. Democracy was also vital as people were empowered to elect their leaders. In contrast, in the communist Soviet Union, the government owned everything and wielded all the power. During the Cold war, the two countries differed in these ideologies in their operations and way of lives. It became much more of a war of propaganda as opposed to a war on the military front by both countries.