Final answer:
The Cuban Missile Crisis increased tension between America and the Soviet Union after World War II. This event in 1962 was a significant confrontation due to the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba and nearly led to nuclear war. It had a lasting impact and established a direct communication line between the two superpowers. The correct answer is option D.
Step-by-step explanation:
The event that increased tension between America and the Soviet Union after World War II from the options provided is D. The Cuban Missile Crisis. The Cuban Missile Crisis was a crucial confrontation that occurred in 1962 over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. This intense 13-day standoff brought the two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war. Though the other options listed were significant in the context of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis was a direct and immediate escalation of tensions that had a profound impact on the relationship between the US and the USSR.
During the crisis, the United States discovered that the Soviet Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba, which could potentially reach and threaten the continental United States. The situation was eventually defused when the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the US promising not to invade Cuba and secretly agreeing to remove US missiles from Turkey. The events of the crisis led to increased communications and eventually, the establishment of a direct telephone hotline between Washington and Moscow.