The Cold War became a dominant influence on many aspects of American society for much of the second half of the 20th<span> century. It escalated due to antagonist values between the United States, representing capitalism and democracy, and the Soviet Union, representing communism and authoritarianism. Being the two dominant world powers after WWII, contention between the Americans and Soviets became a global conflict. The Cold War differed from most wars in that it was as much of a propaganda war as a war with military engagements. The Korean and Vietnam Wars are important examples of military intervention by the Americans in the name of stopping communist expansionism. However, these wars did not have the decades-long impact on American domestic and foreign policy that the cultural, political, and economic battles of the Cold War had.</span>
Great Britain gained control of the Suez Canal in 1875 even though it did not finance or participate in its construction. Egypt found themselves in debt so they sold their shares of the Suez Canal to Great Britain.
