Question

Read the following passage to answer the question.
“If Indochina [Vietnam] falls, Thailand is put in an almost impossible position. The same is true of Malaya with its rubber and tin. The same is true of Indonesia. If this whole part of South East Asia goes under Communist domination or Communist influence, Japan, who trades and must trade with this area in order to exist must inevitably be oriented towards the Communist regime.”

-Vice-President Richard Nixon, Speech 1953
What Cold War idea or belief is presented in Nixon's speech?
*
1 point
military escalation
arms race
detente
domino theory
The Soviet Union wanted to prevent a united West Berlin. Why?
*
1 point
West Berlin would be much bigger than East Berlin
It would take valuable resources away.
The threat to the Soviet Union would be too great.
West Germans would be able to freely enter East Germany.

Answer 1

In Nixon's speech, the Cold War idea or belief presented is **domino theory**. This theory suggested that the spread of communism in one country could lead to the spread of communism in neighboring countries.

Regarding the second question, the reason the Soviet Union wanted to prevent a united West Berlin was **the threat to the Soviet Union would be too great**. A united West Berlin would represent a stronghold of Western influence in the heart of Eastern Europe, potentially undermining the Soviet regime and its control over Eastern Bloc countries.