Final answer:
The underlying ideological differences between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II encompassed economic systems, political leadership, and cultural traditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union had underlying ideological differences in various aspects:
- Economic systems: The United States advocated for capitalism, where private individuals and businesses made economic decisions, while the Soviet Union believed in communism, aiming for equal distribution of resources and collective ownership.
- Political leadership: The United States supported democracy, where people had the power to choose their leaders, while the Soviet Union was governed by a single ruling party and had a more centralized leadership.
- Cultural traditions: The United States had a Western cultural influence, emphasized individualism, and valued personal freedoms, while the Soviet Union promoted collective identity, equality, and collective responsibility.