Final answer:
The early conflicts between the USSR and the U.S. included the Cuban Missile Crisis, Soviet intervention in Eastern Europe, the Space Race, and the Korean War, which were key components in Cold War tensions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The early conflicts between the USSR and the U.S. included the Cuban Missile Crisis, interventions in Eastern Europe, the Space Race, and the Korean War. The Cuban Missile Crisis was perhaps the closest the two superpowers came to direct military conflict, while in Eastern Europe the U.S. opposed Soviet suppression of uprisings in countries seeking greater freedoms. The Space Race exemplified technological and ideological competition, and the Korean War was a significant proxy war wherein the U.S. fought to prevent the spread of communism in Asia.
An explanation of these conflicts provides context for understanding the broader Cold War dynamics. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. soil, which escalated tensions to a fever pitch. In Eastern Europe, the U.S.S.R. forcefully quelled dissent in satellite states, with the U.S. providing rhetorical and limited material support to resistance movements. The Space Race saw the U.S. and USSR investing heavily in space exploration as a show of technological superiority. Lastly, the Korean War, which spanned from 1950-1953, saw American troops directly engaging forces in a conflict where Soviet interests were deeply involved, albeit indirectly.