INS Test

Question 1

Cold War

Answer 1

A period of political tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union (1945–1991), without direct fighting, but with many conflicts and threats of nuclear war.

Question 2

Iron Curtain

Answer 2

A symbolic and physical boundary that separated Western Europe (democratic) and Eastern Europe (communist) during the Cold War - named by Winston Churchill

Question 3

Truman Doctrine

Answer 3

U.S. policy (1947) that promised to support countries resisting communism, starting with aid to Greece and Turkey. It marked the start of American containment policy.

Question 4

Capitalism

Answer 4

An economic system where businesses and industries are privately owned (and not by the government), and prices, production, and distribution are determined by competition in a free market.

Question 5

Marshall Plan

Answer 5

A U.S. program (1948) that gave over $17 billion in economic aid to help rebuild Western European countries after World War II, also aimed at stopping the spread of communism.

Question 6

Satellite States

Answer 6

Countries in Eastern Europe that were officially independent but heavily controlled and influenced by the Soviet Union during the Cold War (e.g., Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Albania)

Question 7

Berlin Blockade (1948–49)

Answer 7

A Soviet attempt to force the Allies out of Berlin by cutting off all road, rail, and canal access to West Berlin. It failed due to the Western Allies’ Berlin Airlift, which supplied the city by air.

Question 8

Communism

Answer 8

A political and economic system where the government owns all property and resources, aiming for a classless society. The Soviet Union was a major communist power during the Cold War.

Question 9

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Answer 9

A military alliance formed in 1949 U.S., Canada, and Western European nations - to defend each other against communist threats, especially from the Soviet Union.

Question 10

Arms Race

Answer 10

A competition during the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to build the largest and most powerful military, especially nuclear weapons.

Question 11

Warsaw Pact

Answer 11

A military alliance formed in 1955 between the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist countries, as a response to NATO

Question 12

Berlin Wall

Answer 12

A wall built in 1961 by East Germany (backed by the USSR) to stop people from fleeing communist East Berlin to democratic West Berlin. It became a symbol of Cold War division.

Question 13

Containment

Answer 13

A U.S. policy strategy aimed at stopping the spread of communism beyond where it already existed, mainly through economic and military aid.

Question 14

Domino Theory

Answer 14

The idea that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would also fall, like a row of dominoes. It was used to justify U.S. involvement in conflicts like Vietnam.

Question 15

Roosevelt

Answer 15

U.S. President during most of World War II.
Worked with Churchill and Stalin at the Yalta Conference to shape post-war Europe.
Died in 1945, just before the Cold War began.

Question 16

Truman

Answer 16

U.S. President after Roosevelt (1945–1953).
Known for the Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, and starting containment policy against communism.

Question 17

Eisenhower

Answer 17

U.S. President (1953–1961) after Truman and former WWII general. Continued Cold War policies, supported domino theory, and expanded U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Question 18

Churchill

Answer 18

British Prime Minister during WWII and early Cold War.
Famous for warning about the “Iron Curtain” in Europe and supporting anti - communism.

Question 19

Johnson

Answer 19

U.S. President (1963–1969) after JFK’s assassination. Greatly increased U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, based on the domino theory.

Question 20

Stalin

Answer 20

Leader of the Soviet Union (1920s–1953). Helped shape the communist Eastern part and clashed with the West, beginning the Cold War after World War 2

Question 21

Nixon

Answer 21

U.S. President (1969–1974) after Johnson. Known for ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam and improving relations with China and the Soviet Union.

Question 22

Khrushchev

Answer 22

Soviet leader (1953–1964) after Stalin. Known for the Cuban Missile Crisis, building the Berlin Wall, and promoting de-Stalinization.

Question 23

JFK

Answer 23

U.S. President (1961–1963) after Einshower.
Faced the Cuban Missile Crisis. Promoted peace but also increased Cold War tensions.

Question 24

Castro

Answer 24

Leader of Cuba after 1959 revolution. Turned Cuba into a communist state. Allied with the Soviet Union, leading to major Cold War events like the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Question 25

Yalta and Potsdam Conferences (1945)

Answer 25

Meetings between the leaders of the U.S., Britain, and the Soviet Union at the end of World War II to decide what to do with Europe after the war. Yalta: They agreed to divide Germany and hold free elections in Europe. Potsdam: Tensions grew, especially between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, starting Cold War disagreements.

Question 26

Berlin Blockade (1948–1949)

Answer 26

The Soviet Union blocked all roads and railways into West Berlin, trying to force the Allies out. The U.S. and Britain responded with the Berlin Airlift, flying in food and supplies. The Soviets gave up after 11 months.

Question 27

Korean War (1950–1953)

Answer 27

A war between North Korea (communist, supported by China and USSR) and South Korea (democratic, supported by the U.S. and Britain). It ended in a stalemate, with Korea still divided at the same border.

Question 28

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Answer 28

The Soviet Union put nuclear missiles in Cuba, close to the U.S. The U.S. demanded they be removed and blocked Soviet ships. For 13 days, the world feared nuclear war. The crisis ended when the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles.

Question 29

Vietnam War (1965 - 1973)

Answer 29

The U.S. fought to stop communist North Vietnam from taking over South Vietnam. The war was long, unpopular, and costly. The U.S. eventually withdrew, and North Vietnam won in 1975.

Question 30

Why did the Cold War start after WWII?

Answer 30

After World War II, the U.S. and the Soviet Union had very different ideas about how countries should be run. The U.S. supported democracy and capitalism. The Soviet Union supported communism and government control. They no longer had a common enemy (Nazi Germany), so their differences caused mistrust and tension, starting the Cold War.

Question 31

How did Stalin’s death impact the Korean War?

Answer 31

Stalin died in 1953, and soon after, the leaders of the Soviet Union and China pushed for peace. This helped lead to a truce in the Korean War. So, Stalin’s death helped end the fighting, but the war didn’t solve anything — Korea stayed divided.

Question 32

How dangerous was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 32

It was extremely dangerous — the closest the world ever came to nuclear war. For 13 days in 1962, the U.S. and the Soviet Union were ready to fight if things went wrong. Luckily, both sides made deals to avoid war, but it showed how serious the Cold War could get.

Question 33

What two ideologies dominated the Cold War and why were they significant?

Answer 33

The two main ideologies were: Capitalism (led by the U.S.) Communism (led by the Soviet Union) They were important because these opposing beliefs caused most of the conflicts, wars, and tensions during the Cold War. Each side wanted to spread its system and stop the other from growing.

Question 34

Timeline

Answer 34

Yalta and Potsdam Conferences – 1945 Construction of the Iron Curtain – 1946 (symbolic beginning of division in Europe) Implementation of the Truman Doctrine – 1947 Implementation of the Marshall Plan – 1948 Berlin Blockade – 1948–1949 Creation of NATO – 1949 The Korean War – 1950–1953 Creation of Warsaw Pact – 1955 The Cuban Missile Crisis – 1962 The Vietnam War (U.S. involvement) – 1965–1973