Final answer:
The tension between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 1960s had a significant impact on international politics, leading to events like the Cuban Missile Crisis, the creation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact alliances, military conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, and periods of greater cooperation and peace between the two superpowers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tension between the United States and Soviet Union in the 1950s and 1960s had a significant impact on international politics. Four events that demonstrate the effect of this tension on the global stage include:
- Brought the world close to nuclear war over Cuba: The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 brought the United States and Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear conflict, as the United States discovered that the Soviet Union had installed missiles in Cuba.
- Creation of NATO and Warsaw Pact alliances: To counter the Soviet threat, the United States formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), while the Soviet Union created the Warsaw Pact. These military alliances demonstrated the division between the two superpowers.
- Military conflicts in Korea and Vietnam: The United States' military involvement in the Korean War (1950-1953) and Vietnam War (1955-1975) were both influenced by the larger Cold War context, with the United States seeking to prevent the spread of communism.
- Greater cooperation and peace between the U.S. and USSR: While there were moments of tension, such as the above-mentioned events, there were also periods of limited cooperation and peace, such as the era of détente in the 1970s.