List two events that, in your opinion, had the biggest impact on the growth of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. (6 points)
1) The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was a significant event that escalated tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. The crisis occurred when the United States discovered that Soviet Union was secretly placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, just off the coast of Florida. This event brought the two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war and caused heightened fear and unease on both sides. The crisis was resolved through negotiations, but it served as a stark reminder of the potential danger and increased the level of tension between the two countries.
2) The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 was another pivotal event that amplified tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. Following World War II, Germany was divided into East Germany (under Soviet control) and West Germany (occupied by the United States, Britain, and France). Thousands of East Germans were flocking to the democratic West Germany, creating a significant population loss for the Soviet-controlled East. In response, the Soviet Union erected a wall that divided Berlin, effectively cutting off the free movement of people between the two sides. This event symbolized the ideological divide of the Cold War and solidified the physical separation between the two superpowers, increasing tensions and worsening the East-West standoff.