A key factor that sowed distrust between the U.S. and the USSR during the Cold War was the ideological conflict between communism and capitalism. This ideological divide intensified after World War II as both superpowers emerged as dominant forces but with starkly differing political and economic systems. The U.S. viewed the spread of communism as a threat to democratic values and global stability, while the USSR sought to expand its influence. Events like the Berlin Blockade, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and various proxy wars heightened tensions, fostering a climate of suspicion and hostility that characterized the Cold War era.