What event is characterized by a struggle for influence between the U.S. and USSR?

The event characterized by a struggle for influence between the U.S. and the USSR is the Cold War. This period, which lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s, was defined by political, military, and ideological rivalry, primarily between the capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union. During the Cold War, the two superpowers engaged in various forms of competition including arms races, proxy wars, and significant diplomatic confrontations, but they never engaged in direct military conflict with each other.

The Cold War also saw the formation of military alliances—NATO led by the U.S. and the Warsaw Pact led by the USSR—as each side sought to expand its influence globally. This rivalry significantly shaped international relations and led to many significant events, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, which were influenced by the overarching conflict between these two nations.

The other options represent historical events unrelated to the U.S.-USSR struggle for influence. The Napoleonic Wars occurred in the early 19th century and involved various European powers fighting against Napoleon Bonaparte's French Empire. The Spanish Armada represents the failed invasion of England by Spain in 1588, and the Wars of the Roses