How did glasnost contribute to the break-up of the Soviet Union?
A. Restructuring the economy led to a change in the political structure.
B. By allowing citizens more freedom to travel, people could see what they were missing.
C. Due to cuts in military spending, people were not afraid the army would stop their demonstrations.
D. By allowing citizens to speak openly, people could express their frustrations.
D. By allowing citizens to speak openly, people could express their frustrations.
Glasnost, which means "openness" in Russian, allowed for greater freedom of speech and expression in the Soviet Union. This led to increased criticism of the government and its policies, as well as the sharing of information and ideas that had previously been suppressed. As a result, people were able to openly express their frustrations with the government and its actions, contributing to a growing sense of discontent and ultimately leading to the break-up of the Soviet Union.
What was the main reason the Soviet Union crumbled in the 1980s?
A. Glasnost led to rebellion against communist rule around the world.
B. The Soviet economy could not match U.S. military spending while meeting citizens’ demand for consumer goods.
C. Policies introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev resulted in the Soviet Union losing its main source of income.
D. The United States convinced Soviet leaders to abandon communist economic policies.
B. The Soviet economy could not match U.S. military spending while meeting citizens’ demand for consumer goods.
The main reason for the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1980s was the economic strain it faced. The Soviet Union struggled to keep up with the United States in military spending, while also trying to meet the demands of its citizens for consumer goods and better living standards. The economic inefficiencies of the Soviet system, coupled with the increasing demands of the population, put immense strain on the economy and eventually contributed to the downfall of the Soviet Union.
Why did the United States most likely offer economic aid to Russia and Eastern Europe during the 1990s?
A. to encourage them to break away from the Soviet Union
B. to politically dominate new governments in the region
C. to help stable, democratic governments emerge in the region
D. to encourage nations to quickly join NATO
C. to help stable, democratic governments emerge in the region
The United States likely offered economic aid to Russia and Eastern Europe during the 1990s to help promote stability and democracy in the region. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many countries in Eastern Europe faced economic challenges and political transition. Providing economic aid could help these countries stabilize their economies, promote democratic ideals, and strengthen their relationships with the West.
"…in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented [never having happened or existed before] in all human history. In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health, even want of the most basic kind—too little food. Even today, the Soviet Union still cannot feed itself. After these four decades, then, there stands before the entire world one great and inescapable conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity…."
Use the quote to answer the question.
In President Reagan’s “Take Down This Wall” speech, he compares the success of the West to the failures of the communist world. To what does he attribute the success of the West?
A. technology
B. prosperity
C. freedom
D. culture
C. freedom
In President Reagan's speech, he attributes the success of the West to freedom. He argues that the level of prosperity and well-being achieved in the West is a result of the freedom that exists in those societies, allowing for innovation, progress, and economic success.
A timeline is titled Nuclear Proliferation, 1950–Present. The timeline ranges 1940–2010.
A timeline is titled Nuclear Proliferation, 1950-Present. The timeline ranges from 1940 to 2010. The entries are as follows:
July 16, 1945: United States tests the first atomic bomb in New Mexico.
August 29, 1949: Russia tests its first atomic bomb using plutonium.
October 3, 1952: United Kingdom tests its first atomic bomb aboard the HMS Plym.
February 13, 1960: First French atomic bomb is detonated in the Sahara Desert.
October 16, 1964: China tests its first atomic bomb using uranium.
March 5, 1970: The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to limit the spread of nuclear weapons comes into force.
May 18, 1974: India tests its first atomic bomb in the Rajasthan Desert.
May 1998: Pakistan tests its first atomic bomb.
October 2006: North Korea tests its first atomic bomb.
Use the timeline to answer the question.
What does this timeline suggest about nuclear proliferation?
A. After World War II, other nations felt the need to develop their own nuclear bombs.
B. After the destruction caused by the first atomic bombs, nations joined to prevent future use and development of nuclear weapons.
C. The United States and the Soviet Union both supplied their allies with nuclear weapons.
D. Although there were a number of nations developing atomic bombs right after World War II, there was no longer a need to worry about more countries doing so.
A. After World War II, other nations felt the need to develop their own nuclear bombs.
The timeline of nuclear proliferation from 1940 to 2010 outlines the development and testing of atomic bombs by various countries following the initial testing by the United States. The timeline suggests that after World War II, the development of nuclear weapons by other nations became a significant concern, leading to a period of nuclear proliferation as different countries sought to possess their own atomic bombs.
What is one cost that victory in the Cold War brought to the United States?
A. Many new governments emerged in Eastern Europe and opposed the United States.
B. The “peace dividend” people hoped for never came about.
C. The spread of nuclear weapons and general arms race created new dangers for the United States and the world.
D. Many U.S. military bases in European countries were forced to close.