Question

Which of the following statements about the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union during this time is true?

The relationship suffered when Stalin refused to assist the Allies in their war against Hitler.

The United States was concerned about Stalin’s plans for his country in the postwar world.

The United States and the Soviet Union respected each other’s differences in opinion.

Answer 1

The second statement is true. The United States was worried about Stalin’s postwar intentions (Soviet control of Eastern Europe, spread of communism), which helped produce Cold War tensions. The first and third statements are false: Stalin did not refuse to fight Hitler (the USSR was a major Allied combatant), and the two countries did not respect each other’s differences—there was deep mistrust and rivalry.