USSR tried to spread communism
USA tried to prevent
USA was worried about a Domino Theory
Domino Theory said if 1 country became communism then a lot more countries could become communist then countries might fall like dominoes to communism
US influenced South Korea, South Vietnam, Taiwan
USSR influenced North Korea North Vietnam Mainland China
Lot of Asian & African countries used communism as a way to decolonialize
Africa USSR influenced Congo Mozambique Angola
USA influenced South Africa
Most important figure in Africa was
Lumumba of Congo
He was a student freedom fighter
He helped the Congo achieve freedom
But then he sided with USSR
He was later overthrown & assassinated by his own military with the help of the US
Short term effects :
Many different factions in countries helped achieve their independence
They often democratically elected a leader
Long Term
Then often the US or USSR helped over throw the leader and put in a dictator in his place, usually a person from that country's own military
Then many factions tried to re-achieve democracy in those same countries with some success & some failures