Introduction: The Cold War and Decolonization Practice Test

In the late 1940s and 1950s, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged from World War II as rival superpowers, each claiming its system best ensured security and prosperity. At the same time, European empires weakened, and anticolonial leaders in Asia and Africa demanded independence, sometimes seeking aid from either superpower. This overlap meant local struggles could become global crises. Which development best illustrates how decolonization and the Cold War became interconnected?

After 1945, many colonial subjects argued that wartime promises of self-determination should apply to them. Meanwhile, the Cold War hardened as both superpowers sought allies, bases, and access to resources. In several regions, nationalist leaders framed their struggles in ideological language to attract support. Which factor most directly encouraged the United States and Soviet Union to support competing factions within decolonizing states?