Tensions between the superpowers by the late-1960s | Exit Quiz | Oak National Academy

Write the missing word: A ___ is a person who publicly disagrees with and criticises their government.

Answer explanation

A dissident is a person who publicly disagrees with and criticises their government.

Which of the following weapons was first developed during the 1960s?

• Anti-ballistic missile

• Hydrogen bomb

• Inter-continental ballistic missile

Answer explanation

The USSR developed anti-ballistic missiles in the late-1960s. These were defensive and were supposed to help compensate for the fact that the USA had more nuclear missiles to attack the Soviets with.

During the 1960s, the USA was at war in which country?

• Cuba

• China

• USSR

• Vietnam

Answer explanation

The USA intensified its involvement in Vietnam during the 1960s to try and prevent the spread of communism from North Vietnam to South Vietnam. Over half a million US troops were deployed there by 1968.

Which Soviet leader increased social and political restrictions in the USSR after 1964?

• Stalin

• Khrushchev

• Brezhnev

Answer explanation

Leonid Brezhnev increased social and political restrictions in the USSR after he gained power in 1964.

What does the example of Andrei Sinyavsky best demonstrate?

• There were strong restrictions on freedom of assembly in the USSR.

• There were strong restrictions on freedom of religion in the USSR.

• There were strong restrictions on freedom of speech in the USSR.

Answer explanation

In the early 1960s, Sinyavsky wrote multiple works which were critical of Soviet society, including the use of gulags. Sinyavsky was put on trial, accused of committing ‘anti-Soviet activities’ and sentenced to several years in a gulag.

Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order

• Sinyavsky was sent to a gulag.

• Brezhnev gained power.

• Committee on Human Rights in the USSR was founded.

• Stalin died.

• Khrushchev reduced restrictions.

Answer explanation

Whilst political and social restrictions eased under Nikita Khrushchev, they were tightened again when Leonid Brezhnev took power in 1964. Thousands of dissidents were imprisoned in gulags. Groups were set up in the USSR and beyond to criticise this.