Short answer describing the cold war, including examples that show how the war influenced events in the postwar perioc.
This site provides a description of the Cold War and cites examples of how it influenced world events. Look for the alliances formed by each side. Look for conflicts, like the Korean and Vietnam wars. Look for the Bay of Pigs incident.
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569374/Cold_War.html
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, lasting from the end of World War II in 1945 until the early 1990s. It involved ideological, political, and military rivalry without direct armed conflict between the two superpowers.
One example of how the Cold War influenced events in the postwar period was the division of Germany into East and West Germany. After World War II, Germany was split into two separate countries: the Soviet-backed German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and the Western democratic Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). This division reflected the broader divide between East and West that defined the Cold War.
Another example is the Korean War. In 1950, North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea, which was backed by the United States and its allies. The war was essentially a proxy conflict between the two superpowers, as each side sought to extend its influence over the Korean Peninsula. This war lasted until 1953 and resulted in an ongoing division between North and South Korea.
The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 is yet another example. The United States discovered that the Soviet Union was secretly placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, just off the coast of Florida. This event brought the world dangerously close to a direct military confrontation between the superpowers. The crisis was defused through negotiations, but it highlighted the intense rivalry and potential for escalation during the Cold War era.
These examples demonstrate how the Cold War influenced events in the postwar period, shaping geopolitical alliances, triggering proxy conflicts, and threatening global stability. The ideological, political, and military competition between the United States and the Soviet Union defined the international landscape for several decades.