Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Cold War Era

Total questions: 88

Worksheet time: 56mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
America's relationship with the Soviet Union was called a "Cold War" because the...
a)
Soviets fought the United States by freezing prices
b)
the United States fought the Soviet Union during their harsh, cold winter
c)
Soviet Union and the United States were enemies, but no official war took place
d)
Soviet Union and United States were developing nuclear weapons using cold fusion
2.
By applying the strategy of containment, the United States hoped to prevent the
a)
emergence of an economic crisis in Europe
b)
return of Nazi ideas to postwar Germany
c)
expansion of the Soviet Union's influence around the world
d)
spread of nationalism from China to the rest of Asia 
3.
Who "Fought" in the Cold War?
a)
U.S. & Japan
b)
Japan & Germany
c)
U.S. & Soviet Union
d)
Germany & U.S. 
4.
What is an Arms Race?
a)
When two countries compete to create the best and most weapons 
b)
When two countries compete to create new colonies
c)
When two countries compete over resources
5.
The alliance of communist countries
a)
NATO
b)
Warsaw Pact
c)
Triple Alliance
d)
Communist Alliance
6.

How did the Marshall Plan aim to contain the spread of communism?

a)

It built up the western European armed forces.

b)

It helped rebuild and strengthen European economies.

c)

It forced Americans to take loyalty oaths to avoid losing their jobs.

d)

It created a military alliance among western European and North American nations.

7.

What is NATO?

a)

A military alliance between Western European Countries, the U.S. and Canada.

b)

A military alliance between Western European Countries, the Soviet Union and China.

c)

A military alliance between Eastern European Countries, Including the Soviet Union and its satellite nations.

d)

A military alliance between Eastern European Countries.

8.

Which statement best explains how the United States responded to the presence of the "Iron Curtain"?

a)

The United States established a blockade of East Berlin.

b)

The United States worked to stop the spread of communism.

c)

The United States withdrew from its European alliances

d)

The United States declared war on the Soviet Union.

9.

Which is a key principle of Capitalism?

a)

Supply and Demand determine production and price

b)

The means of production are controlled by the state

c)

Businesses are owned by the people collectively

d)

Employment is determined by social class

10.
What two nations were in competition with each other during the Cold War?
a)
Spain and Portugal
b)
England and France
c)
Germany and Italy
d)
United States and Soviet Union
11.
What does the ‘Iron Curtain’ symbolize? 
a)
The division between East Germany and West Germany
b)
The division between East Berlin and West Berlin
c)
The division between communist Europe and noncommunist Europe 
d)
The division between North Korea and South Korea
12.

After WWII, the United States had which type of government?

a)

democracy

b)

communism

c)

monarchy

d)

dictatorship

13.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union had which type of government/economic system?

a)

democracy

b)

monarchy

c)

capitalism

d)

communism

14.

What two superpowers immerged after World War II?

a)

United States and Germany

b)

Soviet Union and Germany

c)

Soviet Union and Russia

d)

United States and Soviet Union

15.

Which statement explains how the Truman Doctrine guided U.S. foreign policy in Europe following World War II?

a)

The United States provided financial aid to noncommunist governments fighting communist rebels

b)

The United States divided countries and cities recovering from the war into zones occupied by international forces.

c)

The United States established satellite governments in countries that share borders with the Soviet Union.

d)

The United States boycotted international events held in countries allied with the Soviet Union.

16.

What was the main foreign policy of the U.S. government during the 1950s and 60s?

a)

fighting the threat of terrorism

b)

securing new trade relationships

c)

prosecuting human rights violations

d)

containing the spread of communism

17.

Which group was created in response to the formation of NATO?

a)

Warsaw Pact

b)

Central Intelligence Agency

c)

Office of Strategic Services

d)

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization

18.

Why did the Soviet Union put a blockade on the city of Berlin in 1948?

a)

place Soviet missiles within range of targets in Western Europe

b)

prevent the United States from distributing Marshall Plan funds

c)

pressure the Allies to completely withdraw from East Germany

d)

stop aid from reaching anti-communist rebels in Eastern Europe

19.

The "Iron Curtain" refers to a divide between which two groups?

a)

colonies and colonial powers

b)

Allied- and Axis-controlled territory

c)

industrialized and nonindustrialized nations

d)

US and Soviet spheres of influence

20.

What were the Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine intended to do?

a)

prevent a nuclear arms race

b)

halt the spread of communism

c)

help Asian countries recover from war

d)

support former European colonies

21.

What was the purpose of the Berlin Wall?

a)

keep East Germany from becoming a communist satellite

b)

protect Berlin from invasion by the Soviet Union

c)

prevent East Germans from escaping to West Germany

d)

stop communist spies from infiltrating West Berlin

22.

What role did Berlin play in the Cold War during the Kennedy administration?

a)

It symbolized the division between U.S. and Soviet ideologies.

b)

It became the focus of a reduction in U.S.–Soviet tensions.

c)

It hosted a U.S.–Soviet summit meeting intended to unify Germany.

d)

It served as a place to train U-2 pilots to spy on the Soviet Union.

23.

The term "McCarthyism" is most closely associated with which action?

a)

Accusing political opponents if greed and corruption

b)

Spreading lies to encourage fear and suspicion

c)

Using televised hearings to promote a partisan cause

d)

Mobilizing supporters with grassroot efforts

24.

During the Second Red Scare, public and government suspicions of communism led to...

a)

widespread arrests of military commanders

b)

The decline of powerful civil rights organizations

c)

The blacklisting of people in various industries

d)

Deportation of thousands of immigrants from Latin America

25.

What title best fits this timeline of events?

  1. 1946- Communist government established in Albania
  2. 1947- Truman Doctrine announced
  3. 1948- Berlin Airlift begins
  4. 1949- NATO formed
  5. 1950- Korean War begins
a)

Effects of the Marshall Plan

b)

Developments of the early Cold War

c)

Impacts of the Manhattan Project

d)

Causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis

26.

U.S. flew planes over the Soviet blockade of Berlin

to get supplies to West Berlin without military conflict

a)

Berlin Air Stop

b)

Berlin Air Drop

c)

Berlin Rescue

d)

Berlin Air Lift

27.

U.S. provided financial assistance to Western

European countries to rebuild after WWII was called what?

a)

McCarthy Plan

b)

Truman Plan

c)

Marshall Plan

d)

Barkley Plan

28.

In the Korean War, the U.N. and U.S. sent troops to Korea, to stop the spread

of (a)   , after North Korea invaded the South

29.

(a)   Race was when the U.S. and Soviets promote science and technology as both attempt to develop nuclear arsenals

30.

The U.S.S.R. satellite that caused the U.S to invest money in space, science,

technology and weapons programs was

a)

Sputnik

b)

Kosmos 1

c)

Echo

d)

Explorer 1

31.

McCarthyism was the Red ________ movement led by Senator Joseph

McCarthy that ____________ people suspected of being _____________

(a)  

32.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
a)
Loaning money to Western European countries to rebuild after WWII
b)
Peace organization formed after WWII to prevent war. 
c)
Policy of threatening a major response, including nuclear weapons against a communist nation
d)
Defense organization stating that if one member is attacked, it's the same as all members begin attacked. 
33.
The Cold War 
a)
The United States and the Soviet Union cut all diplomatic ties.
b)
An new kind of war with great casualties on both the US and USSR sides.
c)
Never really happened, it was simply a conspiracy invented by President Truman's administration. 
d)
The United States and the USSR formed competing military alliances. 
34.
Military aid to Greece and Turkey following attempts at communist overthrows. 
a)
Marshall Plan
b)
Domino Theory
c)
NATO
d)
Truman Doctrine
35.
The CIA trained Cuban refugees to try and overthrow Castor's communist regime. This attempt was unsuccessful because JFK refused to provide support. 
a)
Bay of Pigs
b)
Cuban Missile Crisis
c)
Berlin Airlift
d)
Massive Retaliation 
36.
Preventing the spread of communism
a)
Containment
b)
McCarthyism
c)
United Nations
d)
Domino Theory 
37.
All of the following are examples of the Containment policy except? 
a)
Korean War
b)
Sending troops to South Vietnam
c)
The creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
d)
Truman Doctrine 
38.
Which of the following is a response to Stalin cutting off supply lines to Western Berlin? 
a)
Cuban Missile Crisis
b)
Berlin Wall was constructed 
c)
Berlin Airlift by United States forces
d)
The Korean War
39.
What was the US response to the first successful launch of the Soviet's Sputnik in 1957? 
a)
Cuban Missile Crisis
b)
The United States forms NASA
c)
We form a naval blockade off the coast of Cuba
d)
Invasion of the USSR by US forces
40.
Term which refers to the military, political, and ideological barrier established between the Soviet bloc and Western Europe form 1945-1990. 
a)
Berlin Blockade
b)
Iron Curtain
c)
Bay of Pigs
d)
Marshall Plan
41.
Cuba becomes a nuclear threat to the United States and in responses with a naval blockade under Kennedy's leadership. 
a)
Bay of Pigs 
b)
Berlin Airlift
c)
Cuban Missile Crisis
d)
Russian Missile Crisis
42.
Sending troops into South Vietnam was justified by using the 
a)
Tet Offensive
b)
Domino Theory
c)
War Powers Act
d)
Linkage
43.
In 1964, Johnson stated that the North Vietnamese fired upon U.S. boats in international waters. Congress responded by giving Johnson broad powers to wage war. 
a)
Vietnamization 
b)
War Powers Act
c)
Domino Theory
d)
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
44.
Nixon's plan to slowly withdraw American troops from South Vietnam, as the South Vietnamese assumed more of their own war effort. 
a)
Pacification 
b)
Lottery System 
c)
Vietnamization 
d)
Exit Strategy 
45.

What did the Berlin Wall separate?

a)

East and West Germany

b)

North and South Vietnam

c)

North and South Korea

d)

East and West Berlin

46.

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

a)

A trade embargo on Cuba

b)

A military invasion of Cuba by the USA

c)

A diplomatic meeting between USA and Cuba

d)

A 13-day confrontation over Soviet missiles in Cuba

47.

What was the Bay of Pigs?

a)

A failed CIA operation to overthrow Castro

b)

A successful US military operation

c)

A naval battle during the Cuban Missile Crisis

d)

A peace treaty between USA and Cuba

48.

Who was the communist dictator of Cuba who came into power in 1959?

a)

Che Guevara

b)

Raul Castro

c)

Nikita Khrushchev

d)

Fidel Castro

49.

What was the result of the Korean War?

a)

North and South Korea were unified under Chinese control.

b)

North and South Korea continued to exist as separate nations.

c)

North and South Korea were unified under a communist regime.

d)

North and South Korea were unified under a democratic regime.

50.

What did many families build to protect against the threat of atomic explosions?

a)

They built fallout shelters.

b)

They built metallic doghouses.

c)

They built protective car covers.

d)

They built ceramic desks to duck under.

51.

What did Americans call Communist sympathizers?

a)

Reds

b)

Yellow bellies

c)

Traitors

d)

Blacklisters

52.

What term BEST describes the result of the Korean War?

a)

Stalemate

b)

Total annihilation

c)

Total failure

d)

Appeasement

53.

How did Churchill describe the divide between Eastern & Western Europe following WW2?

a)

Iron Curtain

b)

Great Divide

c)

Great Chasm

d)

DMZ

54.

Which organization was created after WW2 to prevent future wars?

a)

United Nations

b)

League of Nations

c)

CIA

d)

HUAC

55.

Where did the Big 3 meet to discuss post WW2 world?

a)

Yalta

b)

Moscow

c)

London

d)

Paris

56.

What motivated the U.S. to get involved in the war in Vietnam?

a)

The U.S. supports governments fighting against Communism (Containment)

b)

The U.S. was only after natural resources in the area

c)

The U.S. wanted to colonize Korea and Vietnam

d)

The U.S. was helping the Japanese empire expand into Vietnam

57.

How did the political climate of the Cold War impact the world's 2 superpowers?

a)

The US and USSR competed against each other economically and politically

b)

They worked together towards the goal of stopping Communism

c)

They both colonized Africa and Asia

d)

They worked together to protect human rights around the world.

58.

Which of the following is usually a characteristic of a Communist economy?

a)

Entrepreneurs sell shares in their companies to the government

b)

The role of the government in the economy is restricted by law

c)

Government agencies are in control of production planning

d)

Investment is encouraged by the promise of large profits.

59.

Both the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine sought to

a)

Solve world hunger

b)

Expand Communism

c)

Contain Communism

d)

Help Russia construct the Iron Curtain

60.

The countries in RED represent which Cold War era organization?

a)

League of Nations

b)

Justice League

c)

USA

d)

Warsaw Pact

61.

How did the Marshall Plan try to prevent the spread of communism?

a)

it provided nuclear weapons to NATO members

b)

It provided funds for economic recovery of war torn European nations

c)

it proved refugee housing

d)

it provided military assistance to Vietnam

62.
What two nations were in competition with each other during the Cold War?
a)
Spain and Portugal
b)
England and France
c)
Germany and Italy
d)
United States and Soviet Union
63.
Why were the US and Soviet Union on opposite side of the Cold War?
a)
The US dropped bombs on the Soviet Union
b)
The Soviet Union dropped bombs on the US
c)
The two countries have different viewpoints of government and economy.
64.
The Cold War started immediately after WWII and lasted until
a)
1960's
b)
1970's
c)
1980's
d)
1990's
65.
By applying the strategy of containment, the United States hoped to prevent the
a)
emergence of an economic crisis in Europe
b)
return of Nazi ideas to postwar Germany
c)
expansion of the Soviet Union's influence around the world
d)
spread of nationalism from China to the rest of Asia 
66.
 One reason for the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 was to:
a)
a.   promote reunification of East Germany and West Germany
b)
b.   keep East Germans from fleeing to the Western sector of Berlin
c)
c.   complete the post–World War II rebuilding of Berlin
d)
d.   meet the requirements of the North Atlantic  Treaty Organization (NATO)
67.
What was the name of the organization that hoped to promote peace and global cooperation following WWII?
a)
League of Nations
b)
The U.S. Congress
c)
Treaty of Versailles
d)
United Nations
68.
Which war began in 1950 with a communist government invading its southern neighbor?
a)
World War II
b)
The Vietnam War
c)
The Cold War
d)
The Korean War
69.
Which part of Korea is communist?
a)
North
b)
South
c)
East
d)
West
70.
Who tried to put missiles in Cuba?
a)
Fidel Castro
b)
The United States
c)
The Soviet Union
d)
Cuba
71.
Who built the Berlin Wall?
a)
Germany
b)
The United States
c)
France
d)
The Soviet Union
72.
Which U.S. war ended with communist victory when the United States left the country?
a)
The Korean War
b)
The Vietnam War
c)
WWII
d)
The Cold War
73.

What policy implemented in the Cold War said the U.S. would give military aid to a country that needed to resist communism?

a)

Marshall Plan

b)

Truman Doctrine

c)

Domino Theory

d)

Open Door Policy

74.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, what did President J.F. Kennedy do when he heard that the Soviet Union was constructing nuclear missile sites in Cuba.

a)

He launched a nuclear missile at the Kremlin in Moscow.

b)

He gave into the demands of the Soviet & Cuban government.

c)

He ordered a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from bringing the necessary materials.

d)

He declared war on the Soviet Union & Cuba.

75.

This was a fear of the United States that if Vietnam fell to communism than the rest of Southeast Asia (Laos & Cambodia) would also fall to communism.

a)

Truman Doctrine

b)

Domino Theory

c)

Geneva Accords

d)

Armistice

76.
During the War in Vietnam, the United States fought in defense of the Republic of _______ Vietnam.
a)
North 
b)
South
c)
East
d)
West
77.
Who was the communist leader of North Vietnam?
a)
Ho Chi Minh
b)
Mao Zedong
c)
Ngo Dien Diem
d)
Hideki Tojo
78.
HOW DID THE U.S. WIN THE SPACE RACE?  
a)
LAUNCHED THEIR OWN SATELLITE 
b)
LAUNCHED THEIR FIRST FEMALE ASTRONAUT INTO SPACE
c)
THE 1ST ASTRONAUTS ON THE MOON
d)
JOHN GLENN ORBITING THE EARTH
79.
How did the Korean War end?
a)
Peace Treaty
b)
South Korea Victory
c)
North Korea Victory
d)
Armistice
80.

By 1968 the nation seemed divided into two camps

a)

doves and hawks

b)

the hippies and the generals

c)

protesters and soldiers

81.

A protest at this University left 4 students dead after the national guard fired into the crowd of protesters

a)

Kent State

b)

Ohio State

c)

Monmouth

82.

Which cause united many college students, civil rights activists, and labor union members during the 1960s?

a)

Opposing U.S. participation in the Vietnam War

b)

Expanding presidential use of executive privilege

c)

Protecting the world against climate change

d)

Using détente as a foreign policy with China

83.
Part of Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society was to 
a)
end poverty in America and provide Education to all
b)
prevent the mistreatment of migrant workers
c)
require migrant workers to work for multiple farmers
d)
prevent the desegregation of schools in America
84.

Lyndon Johnson's plan for improving America was called the

a)

New Frontier

b)

Fair Deal

c)

Great Society

d)

New Deal

85.

What was one result of the Great Society?

a)

Poverty was eliminated in the United States.

b)

the lives of many underprivileged Americans improved.

c)

President Johnson's popularity plummeted.

d)

The federal government shrank considerably.

86.

Why did the United States not share the plan to develop the atomic bomb with the Soviet Union during World War II?

a)

The Soviet Union already had an atomic bomb.

b)

The United States did not trust the Soviet Union.

c)

The Allies would have been against its development on moral grounds.

d)

Scientists were unsure if they would be successful.

87.

What is NATO?

a)

A military alliance between Western European Countries, the U.S. and Canada.

b)

A military alliance between Western European Countries, the Soviet Union and China.

c)

A military alliance between Eastern European Countries, Including the Soviet Union and its satellite nations.

d)

A military alliance between Eastern European Countries.

88.

According to the source and using your knowledge of US History, which of the following is most correct regarding the conflict in Korea?

a)

Both sides at one point made strong advances into their opposition at certain points but fought the war to a stalemate.

b)

Neither side was able to advance very much and the war was essentially a stalemate in the end.

c)

North Korea was able to make a strong push far into South Korea early into the war and nearly captured the southern city of Pusan . South Korea with the help of China was able to push them back.

d)

South Korea was able to make a strong push far into North Korea with the help of the Soviet Union.

Similar Resources on Wayground

Sol Economics and Civics

85 questions

Sol Economics and Civics

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th Grade

Earth Science Fall Final Review

85 questions

Earth Science Fall Final Review

quiz

Worksheet

•

7th - 9th Grade

U.S. Westward Expansion

86 questions

U.S. Westward Expansion

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th Grade

Unit 9 Economic Vocabulary Review

90 questions

Unit 9 Economic Vocabulary Review

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 8th Grade

Jacksonian Era

92 questions

Jacksonian Era

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 8th Grade

Social Sciences Pentathlon (Sections III and IV)

83 questions

Social Sciences Pentathlon (Sections III and IV)

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th Grade

Unit 7: War Review

89 questions

Unit 7: War Review

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th Grade

Illinois Constitution: Article VI & Articles VII-XIV

85 questions

Illinois Constitution: Article VI & Articles VII-XIV

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th Grade