Question 1

Why was the launch of Sputnik significant in the context of the Cold War?
A) Sputnik demonstrated that Western and Soviet scientists could collaborate on scientific projects.
B) Sputnik elevated the prestige of Soviet science to observers in the Third World.
C) Sputnik's success led several states to leave NATO.
D) Sputnik's success diminished the risk of nuclear war.

Accepted Answer

The launch of Sputnik was significant in the context of the Cold War because it elevated the prestige of Soviet science, technology, and innovation to observers in the Third World. This caused concerns among the United States and its allies regarding their ability to compete with the Soviet Union in various sectors, including military, economic, and cultural. This increasing competition intensified the arms race and space race between the two superpowers, which heightened the tensions of the Cold War.

Question 2

What contributed to Japan's postwar economic "miracle"?
A) The Japanese military's pressure to accelerate national industrial growth
B) The Soviet Union's infusion of experts and machinery
C) The Japanese government's protectionism and partnerships with private firms
D) The complete elimination of trade barriers with European countries

Accepted Answer

Japan's postwar economic "miracle" was largely contributed to the Japanese government's protectionism and partnerships with private firms. The government provided support and incentives to certain industries, such as electronics and automobiles, and worked closely with private companies to drive economic growth. This led to the development of industries and technologies that helped Japan become a global economic leader.

Question 3

During the 1950s,Americans expressed anxiety about communism in which of the following ways?
A) Anticommunist rhetoric led to attacks on civil liberties of individuals suspected of being communists or communist sympathizers.
B) Hollywood produced fewer movies than before because so many directors,stars,and writers were blacklisted.
C) Americans bought more consumer goods,which were usually made in the United States.
D) American society became more egalitarian,so that communism would be less appealing.

Accepted Answer

During the 1950s, there was a heightened fear of communism in the United States. This led to a wave of anticommunist sentiment and rhetoric, which resulted in attacks on civil liberties of individuals suspected of being communists or communist sympathizers. This period is commonly referred to as the Red Scare or McCarthyism. Hollywood industry professionals were blacklisted, but this was a result of being accused of being communists or communist sympathizers, not because of a decrease in movie production. While Americans did consume more consumer goods during this time, it was not directly related to the fear of communism. Additionally, American society did not become more egalitarian during this time.

Question 4

Which of the following led Zionist militants to use force in their attempt to gain statehood?
A) During World War II,secret negotiations took place to turn the entire region over to the House of Saud.
B) Following World War II,hundreds of thousands of concentration camp survivors sought entry into Palestine.
C) During World War II,Italian forces occupied the region and attempted to transport large numbers of Jews to Nazi extermination camps in Europe.
D) Following World War II,the French wanted to annex the region to their colony in Lebanon.

Accepted Answer

Following World War II, hundreds of thousands of concentration camp survivors sought entry into Palestine, which led to an increase in Jewish migration to the region. The Zionist militants believed that the only way to gain statehood and establish a Jewish homeland was through the use of force against Arab and British opposition. This led to several instances of violence and terrorism, including the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946.

Question 5

Which of the following is a reason why the Algerian War of Independence shocked French citizens and the colons?
A) The colons controlled Algeria's best land and finances.
B) The French government had declared that Algeria was not a colony,but an integral part of France.
C) France had already granted independence to all of its other African colonies.
D) The colons introduced terror tactics to force the population to choose between them and the nationalists.

Accepted Answer

The French government had declared that Algeria was not a colony but an integral part of France. This meant that Algerians were not considered as colonial subjects entitled to the same rights as French citizens. The Algerian War of Independence challenged this belief, revealing the injustices of the colonial system and the brutality of the French military tactics used to maintain colonial control. The shock of this realization contributed to the social and political upheaval that followed the war.

Question 6

In comparison with life in First World countries,which of the following best describes life for ordinary people in Second World countries?
A) Higher standards of living,but lower levels of economic security
B) Greater social egalitarianism and more opportunities for self-expression
C) Lower standards of living,but higher levels of economic security
D) Higher standards of living,but greater demands for military and community service

Accepted Answer

Second World countries were generally countries aligned with the Communist Bloc during the Cold War, characterized by state-controlled economies and a focus on economic security rather than individual prosperity. This often led to lower standards of living, but greater levels of economic security through government support and social welfare programs. There was also less social egalitarianism and limited opportunities for self-expression due to government control and censorship.

Question 7

Which of the following was a response to Nikita Khrushchev's speech in 1956 attempting to separate Stalinism from true communism?
A) Supporters of Stalin attempted to regain control of the Politburo.
B) Polish and Hungarian intellectuals tried to break away from strict communist controls.
C) The Soviet army commanders withdrew troops from Eastern Europe.
D) The Politburo gave orders to have Stalin's supporters quietly poisoned to avoid open disunity among the communist elite.

Accepted Answer

Khrushchev's speech denouncing Stalinism and advocating for a "de-Stalinization" led to a wave of dissent among intellectuals and political leaders in Eastern Europe. In Poland and Hungary, protests and movements for greater political freedom and economic reform emerged, with some seeking to break away from strict communist control. This culminated in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, which was brutally suppressed by Soviet military intervention. There is no evidence that supporters of Stalin attempted to regain control of the Politburo or that the Soviet army commanders withdrew troops from Eastern Europe. The claim that Stalin's supporters were quietly poisoned is not supported by historical evidence.

Question 8

Which of the following led European Jews to migrate to Palestine during the first half of the twentieth century?
A) They believed that returning to their place of origin would lead to self-determination.
B) They sought assimilation into an existing regional Semitic culture.
C) They wished to create a new European colony in the Middle East,to replace the Ottoman Empire.
D) They hoped to learn Palestinian agricultural techniques in order to achieve economic success.

Accepted Answer

European Jews believed that returning to their historical homeland would allow them to exercise self-determination and establish a Jewish state. This idea, known as Zionism, was popularized in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and led to significant Jewish migration to Palestine during the first half of the 20th century.

Question 9

Which of the following accurately depicts the Vietnamese intelligentsia under French rule?
A) The Vietnamese intelligentsia rejected Western culture and returned to traditional Shinto values.
B) The Vietnamese intelligentsia were granted land and mining concessions to ensure their loyalty.
C) Western-educated Vietnamese living overseas strongly supported the colonial government.
D) Western-educated Vietnamese worked as clerks,teachers,and petty officials,but had few opportunities for advancement.

Accepted Answer

Western-educated Vietnamese were able to attain positions as clerks, teachers, and petty officials, but were not granted many opportunities for advancement due to their non-European status under the colonial government. They were also often discriminated against in favor of French nationals who held higher level positions.

Question 10

Which of the following was the main reason that the United States became involved in the conflict between North and South Vietnam?
A) The United States supported South Vietnam because it feared the spread of communism throughout Southeast Asia.
B) The United States supported North Vietnam because it admired Ho Chi Minh's nationalist goals.
C) The United States felt it could be a neutral arbitrator in the region,since the United States had not been a colonial power in the region.
D) The United States became involved in order to get access to petroleum reserves off the eastern coast of Vietnam.

Accepted Answer

The United States became involved in the conflict between North and South Vietnam primarily because it feared the spread of communism throughout Southeast Asia. The U.S. believed that if Vietnam fell to communism, it would lead to other countries in the region also becoming communist, a phenomenon known as the domino theory. This led the U.S. to support South Vietnam with military aid and troops, in an effort to prevent the spread of communism.

Question 11

Which of the following is a reason why some First World powers supported South Africa during the 1950s and 1960s?
A) South Africa was anticommunist.
B) South Africa was a strategic military and commercial outpost.
C) South Africa had developed a democratic society.
D) South Africa,especially Johannesburg,was an important center for global finance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a reason...

Question 12

Which of the following encouraged the European powers to surrender their African colonies?
A) The European powers determined that it was time to live up to their Enlightenment ideals.
B) The United States encouraged decolonization,but the USSR opposed it.
C) The treaty ending World War II called for immediate decolonization.
D) European powers were too deep in debt to invest more in pacifying the discontented Africans.

Accepted Answer

After World War II, European powers were struggling with financial difficulties and were too deep in debt to invest more in their African colonies. This made it difficult for them to suppress the growing discontent among Africans and maintain control over their colonies. Therefore, the financial burden encouraged European powers to surrender their African colonies.

Question 13

Which of the following groups of Africans led anticolonial movements immediately following World War II?
A) Religious leaders,rural peasants,and urban artisans
B) Urban unemployed,former servicemen,and Western-educated indigenous elites
C) Current and former members of colonial legislatures
D) Primary school dropouts unable to find gainful employment

Accepted Answer

The urban unemployed,former servicemen, and Western-educated indigenous elites were the ones who led anticolonial movements immediately following World War II. Religious leaders,rural peasants,urban artisans, current and former members of colonial legislatures, and primary school dropouts were also involved in the movements, but they were not the leading groups.

Question 14

Which of the following people provided the model for protest that Martin Luther King,Jr.adopted in his pursuit of civil rights?
A) Nelson Mandela
B) Mohandas Gandhi
C) Ho Chi Minh
D) Gamal Abdel Nasser

Accepted Answer

Mohandas Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance, known as satyagraha, heavily influenced Martin Luther King Jr. in his pursuit of civil rights. King even visited India to learn more about Gandhi's teachings and methods.

Question 15

Which of the following factors encouraged the British to transfer power quickly to the Indian National Congress following World War II?
A) The threat of radicalized peasant uprisings prompted the British to expedite the transfer of power to the middle-class leaders of the Indian National Congress.
B) The British had to give up the rule of India because Indian nationalists threatened violent revolution over the British attempt to select the Indian cricket team to tour Australia in 1946.
C) The British,exhausted from World War II,were unable to cope with the cost of famine relief in 1946.
D) The outbreak of civil war between Hindus and Muslims in South Asia in 1945 encouraged the British to leave India as quickly as possible.

Accepted Answer

The threat of peasant uprisings played a role in the transfer of power as it made the British realize that they needed to act quickly to prevent the situation from getting out of hand. Additionally, the middle-class leaders of the Indian National Congress were seen as a more moderate and reliable force compared to radical groups. While the other options suggest factors that impacted the decision to transfer power, they are not accurate or significant enough to be considered the primary reason.

Question 16

Why did many African leaders think that Africa would move swiftly to a special African form of socialism following decolonization?
A) They believed that the common African traditions that informed Negritude would enable them to embrace social justice and equality.
B) They believed that they had been most prosperous under,and wanted to return to,Islamic caliphates.
C) They believed that the colonial experience had provided them with strong economic principles to begin independence.
D) They believed that the model provided by the First World was best suited to African conditions.

Accepted Answer

Many African leaders believed that Africa would move swiftly to a special African form of socialism following decolonization because they believed that the common African traditions that informed Negritude would enable them to embrace social justice and equality. Negritude was a cultural and political movement that emphasized the pride and solidarity of African peoples and cultures. It focused on returning to a pre-colonial African society that emphasized community, social harmony, and cooperation over individual achievement and competition.

Question 17

How did the Arab-Israeli War of 1947-1948 help shatter the legitimacy of Arab ruling elites?
A) Arab ruling elites did not have the funds to make adequate provision for large numbers of Palestinian refugees.
B) Arab ruling elites counseled caution in challenging the partition,but their military fought anyway.
C) Arab states were poorly prepared to take on the Israeli Defense Force and eventually lost territory granted to them by the United Nations' partition.
D) Arab states lacked sufficient diplomatic training to effectively challenge the United Nations' partition.

Accepted Answer

Arab states, despite having superior numbers, were unable to effectively challenge the Israeli Defense Force and eventually lost territory granted to them by the United Nations' partition. This failure to defend the rights of Palestinians shattered the legitimacy of Arab ruling elites in the eyes of their people, who saw them as ineffectual and unable to protect the interests of Arab Muslims. Additionally, this defeat weakened the power of the Arab nationalist movements that had previously enjoyed significant support from the masses, leading many to question the legitimacy of their claims and their ability to bring about real change.

Question 18

Why did Egypt emerge as a potent symbol of pan-Arab nationalism in 1956?
A) Egypt's military under Nasser was able to reclaim the Suez Canal from the British,French,and Israelis.
B) Because Egypt was the site of the oldest civilization in the region,it had great prestige.
C) Egypt was the site of origin of the Muslim Brotherhood,which soon came to power after they overthrew the king.
D) Egypt had been the capital of the last Muslim Caliphate,so it was the symbolic home of pan-Arab sentiments.

Accepted Answer

Egypt's military under Nasser was able to reclaim the Suez Canal from the British, French, and Israelis, which made Egypt a symbol of resistance against colonialism and imperialism. This event also highlighted the need for Arab unity and solidarity against external threats. The success of Egypt's military also boosted Nasser's popularity and his vision of pan-Arabism.

Question 19

Which of the following is a reason that communism lost its appeal in post-World War II Western Europe?
A) Communist political parties were outlawed in Western European countries.
B) Strong economic growth led to increased standards of living and expanded access to services like education and health care.
C) Observers who visited the Soviet Union were able to observe and report on the differences between communist theory and Soviet practice.
D) Europeans had successfully prosecuted Nazis and Fascists,so saw nothing to be gained from another authoritarian system such as communism.

Accepted Answer

Western Europe experienced a period of economic growth after World War II, known as the "economic miracle," which led to an increase in standards of living and expanded access to services like education and health care. This made the appeal of communism less attractive to many in the region.

Question 20

Which of the following is a similarity between the decolonization experiences of Algeria and South Africa?
A) Both countries suffered violent civil wars to end colonial control.
B) Both countries were independent before the end of World War II.
C) Both countries had large numbers of European settlers,which prevented a smooth transfer of power.
D) Both countries had trained large numbers of indigenous people in the civil service and military,making the transition to independence easier.

Accepted Answer

Both Algeria and South Africa had large numbers of European settlers, which created tension and made the transfer of power from colonial rule to independence more difficult. In Algeria, the French colonizers were reluctant to give up their economic interests and it led to years of violence and conflict. In South Africa, the policy of apartheid perpetuated unequal treatment of the indigenous population and sparked resistance movements such as the African National Congress.

Quiz 20: The Three-World Order 1940-1975

Why was the launch of Sputnik significant in the context of the Cold War?

What contributed to Japan's postwar economic "miracle"?

During the 1950s,Americans expressed anxiety about communism in which of the following ways?

Which of the following led Zionist militants to use force in their attempt to gain statehood?

Which of the following is a reason why the Algerian War of Independence shocked French citizens and the colons?

In comparison with life in First World countries,which of the following best describes life for ordinary people in Second World countries?

Which of the following was a response to Nikita Khrushchev's speech in 1956 attempting to separate Stalinism from true communism?

Which of the following led European Jews to migrate to Palestine during the first half of the twentieth century?

Which of the following accurately depicts the Vietnamese intelligentsia under French rule?

Which of the following was the main reason that the United States became involved in the conflict between North and South Vietnam?

Which of the following is a reason why some First World powers supported South Africa during the 1950s and 1960s?

Which of the following encouraged the European powers to surrender their African colonies?

Which of the following groups of Africans led anticolonial movements immediately following World War II?

Which of the following people provided the model for protest that Martin Luther King,Jr.adopted in his pursuit of civil rights?

Which of the following factors encouraged the British to transfer power quickly to the Indian National Congress following World War II?

Why did many African leaders think that Africa would move swiftly to a special African form of socialism following decolonization?

How did the Arab-Israeli War of 1947-1948 help shatter the legitimacy of Arab ruling elites?

Why did Egypt emerge as a potent symbol of pan-Arab nationalism in 1956?

Which of the following is a reason that communism lost its appeal in post-World War II Western Europe?

Which of the following is a similarity between the decolonization experiences of Algeria and South Africa?