The legacy of the Cold War and the struggle between the USSR and the United States continued to flourish largely in developing countries. The two world powers had different ideologies and were in a battle for supremacy. The Cold War pitted an American-led alliance against the Soviet Union that divided the economic and political world into two large blocs. The Cold War involved an ideological competition that intensified after the two great powers, America and the Soviet Union, began competing for friendship with dozens of new sovereign states that had previously been colonial powers. The superpowers were really trying to recruit the emerging nations to their side and their way of life. Each superpower sought to convince the rest of the world, especially newly independent, quasi-independent, or third world countries, that their cause typified the highest human values ​​and that their message carried the hope of world civilization. The global competition between the Soviet bloc and the US bloc influenced in many ways the independence of newly independent, quasi-independent or strategically located states between 1947 and 1965. First, during this period, the world economy grew enormously and economic development became the main goal of the newly developing or independent states. By moving away from the Soviet style and accepting the capitalist system, Third World countries ushered in the era of globalization which contributed to their development. Many quasi-independents wanted to form their own governments and move away from the harsh rule of the English and so did everything they could to fight for their independence. The Cold War helped them understand their settlers and this gave them a reason to accelerate their cause as leaders... of paper... to strategize on how to help their countries gain independence and form their own governments. The Cold War was a stepping stone for many countries towards independence. Many developing countries were able to resist colonialism and their colonial rule and fought for the independence of their countries. The United States and the Soviet Union provided military aid to many African countries during the Cold War, and after the Cold War, the weapons they were supplied with were used in their wars to gain independence. Works Cited Weigley, Russell F. A Great Civil War: A Military and Political History, 1861-1865. Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2004. Print. Rhodes, James Ford. History of the Civil War, 1861-1865. New York: Dover Publications, 2007. Print.Sears, Stephen. The civil war: the second year told by those who lived it. New York: Library of America, 2012. Print.