Capitalism is the fastest growing, and largest political, social, and economic system in the world. Not too long ago Communism was spreading its borders towards neighboring Asian and European countries in a viscous retaliation against capitalism’s growth in Western Europe and Japan. The largest Capitalist nation, the U.S.A., feared that the U.S.S.R. wanted to destroy Democratic and Capitalist institutions, while the U.S.S.R. feared U.S. wealth and power stopping the rise of the Soviet Communism. Most of the fear originated in the fact that war between the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. would lead to the extinction of the human race, due to an arsenal of nuclear arms between the two. To truly understand the Cold War requires a look at Capitalism and Communism, …show more content…
Some characteristics of Capitalism are innovation and investments to increase wealth, which brought about the change of production. Capitalism began with merchants who would borrow money to buy goods, then resell those goods to pay back their loaners. This was known as Mercantile Capitalism, and by the 17th century merchants in the Netherlands and Britain expanded on this by creating joint stock companies. These companies financed bigger trades and spread international trade, but problems occurred when ships either sank, or taken by pirates. However, it wasn’t until the start of Industrial Capitalism that Capitalism took off. It was an economic system relying on investment of capital in machines and technology that are used to increase production of marketable goods. There were several downsides to its conception including long hours for workers, low wages, horrible working conditions, and child labor. Industrial Capitalism began in Britain during the 19th century, as it was the dominant power of the seas, and made a great deal of money by trading with its