Causation: The Cold War and Decolonization - AP World History

1. Which initiative did President Reagan propose to protect the U.S. from nuclear attacks?

   Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). 'Star Wars' missile defense system proposal.

2. Identify the U.S. policy aimed at easing Cold War tensions in the 1970s.

   Détente. Reduced tensions through diplomatic engagement.

3. Which term describes the decolonization process post-World War II?

   Self-determination. Colonies gained right to choose their own government.

4. Which two nations emerged as superpowers after World War II?

   United States and Soviet Union. Nuclear powers dominated post-war global politics.

5. Which 1968 event in Czechoslovakia challenged Soviet dominance?

   Prague Spring. Reform movement crushed by Soviet invasion.

6. What was the primary ideological conflict during the Cold War?

   Capitalism vs. Communism. Two opposing economic systems defined Cold War rivalry.

7. Which strategy did the U.S. use to counter Soviet influence in the Middle East?

   Eisenhower Doctrine. Protected Middle Eastern nations from communist expansion.

8. What was the significance of the Bandung Conference in 1955?

   It promoted Afro-Asian economic and cultural cooperation. First major gathering of newly independent nations.

9. Which 1947 U.S. strategy aimed at rebuilding and stabilizing Europe?

   Marshall Plan. Economic recovery program strengthened Western Europe.

10. What was the primary effect of the Suez Crisis of 1956?

    Increased Soviet influence in the Middle East. Britain and France lost influence to superpowers.

11. What was the main goal of the Soviet policy of glasnost?

    Increased transparency and openness. Gorbachev's reform promoted open political discussion.

12. What was the primary purpose of the Berlin Airlift in 1948-1949?

    To supply West Berlin during the Soviet blockade. Allied planes delivered supplies to break Soviet blockade.

13. What was the primary goal of the Helsinki Accords in 1975?

    To improve relations between the Communist bloc and the West. Recognized borders and promoted human rights cooperation.

14. Which treaty sought to limit nuclear weapons in 1968?

    Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Prevented spread of nuclear weapons to more countries.

15. Which event marked the beginning of the Nuclear Arms Race?

    Soviet Union's atomic bomb test in 1949. Ended U.S. nuclear monopoly and began arms competition.

16. Which African leader became a symbol of anti-apartheid struggle?

    Nelson Mandela. ANC leader imprisoned for fighting racial segregation.

17. What was the primary reason for the Berlin Wall's construction in 1961?

    To prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin. Stopped mass exodus undermining East German state.

18. Which 1979 event in the Middle East challenged U.S. influence?

    Iranian Revolution. Islamic revolution overthrew U.S.-backed shah.

19. What was the outcome of the Vietnam War for the United States?

    Withdrawal and unification of Vietnam under communism. Military defeat led to communist victory.

20. Which country did the Soviet Union invade in 1979, sparking international condemnation?

    Afghanistan. Soviet expansion triggered international boycotts and sanctions.

21. Which movement sought independence from colonial powers in Africa and Asia?

    Decolonization. Post-WWII process ended European colonial empires.

22. Identify the primary cause of the Korean War (1950-1953).

    North Korea's invasion of South Korea. Communist attempt to unify Korea under Kim Il-sung.

23. Which Asian country gained independence from French colonial rule in 1954?

    Vietnam. First Indochina War ended French colonial control.

24. What was the response of the Soviet Union to NATO?

    Warsaw Pact. Soviet-led military alliance to counter NATO.

25. What was the purpose of the Iron Curtain speech by Winston Churchill?

    To highlight Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe. Warned of Soviet control over Eastern Europe.

26. What was the main goal of the Non-Aligned Movement?

    To remain independent from Cold War superpowers. Third World countries avoided choosing Cold War sides.

27. What was a key factor in the decline of European colonial empires post-WWII?

    Rising nationalist movements in colonies. Post-war independence movements weakened European control.

28. Which 1989 event symbolized the end of the Cold War?

    Fall of the Berlin Wall. Physical symbol of communist control collapsed.

29. Which 1962 event brought the U.S. and USSR close to nuclear war?

    Cuban Missile Crisis. Soviet missiles in Cuba threatened U.S. directly.

30. Identify the military alliance formed by Western countries in 1949.

    NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Collective security alliance against Soviet expansion.

31. What was the U.S. policy of providing military aid to countries resisting communism?

    Truman Doctrine. Promised aid to nations fighting communist insurgency.

32. Which 1947 U.S. policy aimed to provide economic aid to rebuild Europe?

    Marshall Plan. Economic aid to prevent European communist takeover.

33. Identify the term for the geopolitical tension after World War II.

    Cold War. Period of ideological conflict without direct warfare.

34. What was the primary focus of the SALT I talks in 1972?

    Limiting strategic arms between the U.S. and USSR. First arms control agreement between superpowers.

35. Which conflict was the first proxy war of the Cold War?

    Korean War. Superpowers fought through allied nations.

36. Identify the term for the policy of preventing the spread of communism.

    Containment. Truman's strategy to limit communist expansion globally.

37. Which country declared independence from Portugal in 1975?

    Angola. African colony gained freedom after long struggle.

38. Which African country gained independence from British rule in 1960?

    Nigeria. West African independence movement succeeded peacefully.

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