The origins of the Cold War revision 50 questions

Which historian argued that Soviet foreign policy was driven by a mix of ideological ambitions and security concerns?

• William Appleman Williams
• John Lewis Gaddis
• Zubok and Pleshakov
• Fred Halliday

Answer explanation

Zubok and Pleshakov provided a nuanced analysis, blending ideology with security concerns in Soviet foreign policy.

What was a significant outcome of the Yalta Conference in 1945?

• The decision to divide Germany into occupation zones
• The establishment of the Warsaw Pact
• The Marshall Plan was announced
• The formation of NATO

Answer explanation

The Yalta Conference resulted in the division of Germany into four occupation zones controlled by the Allied powers.

Which leader's suspicion of his wartime allies led to extensive espionage activities in the West?

• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Harry Truman
• Joseph Stalin
• Winston Churchill

Answer explanation

Joseph Stalin's deep suspicion of his allies led to extensive Soviet espionage activities during and after World War II.

Which event is often cited as marking the beginning of the Cold War?

• The Potsdam Conference
• The Truman Doctrine
• The Berlin Blockade
• The Bolshevik Revolution

Answer explanation

Some historians argue that the Cold War began with the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917.

Which concept was central to American foreign policy after World War II?

• Isolationism
• Appeasement
• Collective security
• Containment

Answer explanation

Containment was a key concept in American foreign policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism.

Who was the main proponent of the traditionalist view of the Cold War?

• John Lewis Gaddis
• Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
• William Appleman Williams
• Thomas Bailey

Answer explanation

Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. was a major proponent of the traditionalist view that the Soviet Union was responsible for starting the Cold War.

What was the main argument of the post-revisionist view of the Cold War?

• The US was solely responsible for the Cold War
• Both superpowers were equally to blame
• The Cold War was inevitable due to ideological differences
• The Cold War was caused by misunderstandings

Answer explanation

Post-revisionists argue that both the US and the USSR were equally to blame for the Cold War.

Which leader's policies were influenced by a deep fear of capitalist encirclement?

• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Winston Churchill
• Joseph Stalin
• Mao Zedong

Answer explanation

Joseph Stalin's policies were heavily influenced by his fear of capitalist encirclement and the potential threat it posed to the Soviet Union.

What was the significance of the 'percentages agreement' at the Moscow Conference in 1944?

• It divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence
• It established the United Nations
• It led to the Berlin Blockade
• It was the start of the arms race

Answer explanation

The 'percentages agreement' between Churchill and Stalin divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.

What was one of the reasons for the Soviet Union's rejection of the Marshall Plan?

• It was too costly
• It required revealing sensitive economic data
• It was incompatible with communist ideology
• It favored Western European countries

Answer explanation

The Soviet Union rejected the Marshall Plan partly because it required revealing sensitive economic data, which the USSR considered a state secret.