Final answer:
The United States and the Soviet Union responded differently to third world countries' calls for independence and autonomy. The United States focused on preventing the spread of Communism and maintaining its own influence, while the Soviet Union supported independence movements in some cases. Both superpowers tried to attract support from nations for different reasons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States and the Soviet Union generally responded to third world countries' calls for independence and autonomy in different ways. The United States was primarily concerned with preventing the spread of Communism and maintaining its own influence in these regions. It offered financial aid, military support, and technical advice to countries that aligned with its interests. On the other hand, the Soviet Union provided aid to independence groups in the Portuguese colonies and supported states that were breaking away from the Soviet Union itself. Both superpowers sought to attract support from nations for various reasons, but some countries resisted getting involved in either camp.