Question 1: Explain the main political differences between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Answer: The US supported capitalism and democracy, promoting free markets and individual freedoms. The Soviet Union supported communism, emphasizing state control and a one-party system.

Question 2: Describe the significance of the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949 in the context of the Cold War.

Answer: The Berlin Airlift was a response by Western Allies to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin, demonstrating their commitment to resist Soviet expansion and supporting West Berlin's survival.

Question 3: Identify two key events that marked the escalation of Cold War tensions in the 1950s.

Answer: The Korean War beginning in 1950 and the launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957.

Question 4: Describe the concept of 'Mutually Assured Destruction' (MAD) and its impact on Cold War diplomacy.

Answer: MAD was a situation where both superpowers possessed enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other, which discouraged direct conflict and promoted nuclear deterrence.

Question 5: Explain the purpose of the Marshall Plan and its role in the Cold War.

Answer: The Marshall Plan was US financial aid to rebuild Western Europe after WWII, aiming to prevent the spread of communism and strengthen alliances against the Soviet Union.

Question 6: Sketch a simple map showing the division of Berlin during the Cold War. Label the Western sectors and the Soviet sector.

Answer: A large rectangle divided into four sections, with the western sectors shaded or labeled as 'Western sectors' (representing the US, UK, and France), and the eastern sector labeled 'Soviet sector'. The Berlin Wall should be represented as a dividing line.

Question 7: Describe what the 'Cuban Missile Crisis' was and why it was a turning point in Cold War history.

Answer: The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was a standoff after the Soviet Union installed nuclear missiles in Cuba, close to the US. It was a turning point because it brought the superpowers to the brink of nuclear war but also led to improved communication and arms control agreements.

Question 8: List three ways in which the Cold War affected countries outside Europe and North America.

Answer: It led to conflicts and civil wars in countries like Vietnam and Korea, increased military aid and influence from superpowers, and economic impacts through the arms race.

Question 9: Explain the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Answer: The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of Cold War divisions, led to the reunification of Germany, and marked the decline of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.

Question 10: Discuss two reasons why the Cold War eventually ended.

Answer: The decline of Soviet economic power and leadership changes, such as Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost and perestroika, and increasing demands for reform in Eastern Europe.