Compare the ways in which the United States and the Soviet Union sought to maintain influence over the course of the Cold War.

Both the United States and the Soviet Union used force and peaceful ways to exert influence.

The United States used peaceful ways for example by giving over 12 billion dollars to Western European Countries in a program for reconstruction known as the Marshall Plan. It also had the most influence in international financial organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, which gave loans to countries in need in exchange for political and economic concessions.

However, it also used force, for example, by getting involved in wars in Korea, and Vietnam, and by trying to topple the Cuban government.

The Soviet Union also gave aid to countries under its sphere of influence, but because the Soviet Union was poorer than the U. S, it did not have as much success.

The Soviets also used force continously, for example: the Soviet Army supressed civil movements in Czechoslovakia and Hungary.