Final answer:
The Cold War was a political and military standoff between the US and the Soviet Union, marked by proxy wars, and an arms and space race, but avoiding direct military conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cold War was a state of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. This period of conflict lasted from the end of World War II in 1945 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. During this time, the two superpowers engaged in an ideological battle between capitalism and communism, which manifested in various forms including an arms race, space race, and several proxy wars. Notably, while this was a global contest for supremacy, direct military conflict between the US and USSR was avoided, which is why the era is termed 'cold'.
The US and Soviet Union rivalry influenced every aspect of global affairs from technology and economics to social policies and military strategies. Proxy conflicts, such as the Vietnam War and the Soviet-Afghan War, were among the many battlegrounds where the superpowers clashed indirectly. The tension during this era was so high that it nearly resulted in military conflict multiple times, such as during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.