Answer:
Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam War
Step-by-step explanation:
Two Cold War events that had a significant impact on the U.S. decision to pursue détente were the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War.
Cuban Missile Crisis: The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was a major confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. The presence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba brought the two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war. The crisis highlighted the dangers of direct confrontation and the potential catastrophic consequences of a full-scale nuclear conflict. It led to a realization that both sides needed to find a way to ease tensions and establish more stable and predictable relations.
Vietnam War: The Vietnam War, which lasted from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s, was a protracted conflict between North Vietnam (supported by the Soviet Union and China) and South Vietnam (supported by the United States and its allies). The war had a significant impact on the U.S. domestically, politically, and economically. It was a costly and divisive conflict that led to a reevaluation of U.S. foreign policy and the recognition that military intervention and containment strategies had limitations. The Vietnam War contributed to a growing desire for a more peaceful and cooperative approach to international relations, leading to the pursuit of détente as a means to reduce tensions and seek diplomatic solutions.
Both events demonstrated the potential dangers and limitations of the aggressive and confrontational approaches that characterized earlier phases of the Cold War. They played a role in shaping the U.S. decision to pursue détente, a policy aimed at reducing hostility, promoting arms control, and fostering dialogue and cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union.