The Cold War (1947–1991) Quiz
Four decades of superpower rivalry. 10 multiple-choice questions with explanations.
Questions
What 1947 policy pledged U.S. support to countries resisting communist pressure?
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Truman Doctrine. It began with aid to Greece and Turkey.
What U.S. program helped rebuild Western Europe after WWII?
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The Marshall Plan. It sent about $13 billion in aid starting in 1948.
In what year was the Berlin Wall built?
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1961. East Germany built it in August 1961; it fell in November 1989.
In what year did the Cuban Missile Crisis happen?
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1962. The 13-day standoff in October 1962 is seen as the closest the superpowers came to nuclear war.
What was the first artificial satellite, launched by the USSR in 1957?
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Sputnik. Sputnik's launch set off the space race.
What was the Warsaw Pact?
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The Soviet-led military alliance in Eastern Europe. It was formed in 1955 as a counterweight to NATO.
In what year was the armistice signed that stopped the Korean War?
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1953. The July 1953 armistice ended the fighting, but no peace treaty was signed.
Which Soviet leader introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring)?
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Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev led the USSR from 1985 to 1991.
When did the Soviet Union dissolve?
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December 1991. Gorbachev resigned on December 25, 1991, and the USSR formally ceased to exist the next day.
Which U.S. senator led 1950s hearings accusing officials of communist ties?
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Joseph McCarthy. The Senate censured McCarthy in 1954.