What does the term "Cold War" refer to?

The term "Cold War" refers to the prolonged period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, which lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s. This era was characterized by political, military, and ideological rivalry, rather than direct military conflict between the two superpowers. The Cold War shaped international relations and influenced numerous conflicts around the world, as both countries sought to expand their influence and contain the other's power through proxy wars, nuclear arms races, and propaganda campaigns.

In contrast, the other choices describe specific historical events or conflicts that do not encompass the broad and enduring nature of the Cold War. The war between North and South Korea was a direct military conflict that occurred within the wider context of the Cold War but does not define it. The period of the American Revolution represents a separate historical event focused on the colonies' fight for independence from British rule. Finally, the economic conflict between East and West Germany reflects the division of Germany during the Cold War but is just one aspect of the broader geopolitical tensions of the period.