HISET Social Studies Practice

Which event marked the beginning of the Cold War?

1. The signing of the Treaty of Versailles

2. The end of World War II

3. The dropping of atomic bombs on Japan

4. The establishment of the United Nations

The correct answer is: The end of World War II

The end of World War II marked the beginning of the Cold War, as it created a significant power vacuum and ideological conflicts between the major superpowers. After the war, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the dominant military and political forces in the world, each promoting vastly different ideologies—capitalism and democracy versus communism. The geopolitical tensions escalated rapidly due to factors such as differing post-war visions for Europe, the division of Germany, and varying approaches to the countries of Eastern Europe. This period saw the emergence of proxy wars, a nuclear arms race, and the establishment of conflicting alliances—most notably NATO and the Warsaw Pact. These developments highlighted the adversarial relationship between the two powers and solidified the atmosphere of distrust and competition that characterized the Cold War era. While the other events listed had significant global implications, they do not directly signify the shift towards Cold War dynamics in the same way that the end of World War II does. The Treaty of Versailles and the establishment of the United Nations were pivotal in their respective contexts but were not initiating events for the Cold War specifically. The dropping of atomic bombs, while it introduced nuclear weapons into global dynamics, was a moment during the war rather than the start of a new geopolitical conflict.