Question 1

One of the reasons for the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq war was

Accepted Answer

Saddam Hussein's fear of the revolutionary government in Iran inciting Iraq's Shi'ite majority to rebel was a significant factor leading to the Iran-Iraq War. This concern was rooted in the sectarian divide between Iraq's Sunni-dominated government and its Shi'ite majority, alongside the revolutionary Islamic fervor emanating from Iran after the 1979 revolution.

Question 2

Which U.S. president covertly used Israel to transfer arms to Iran in order to gain the release of American hostages in Lebanon and finance war against the Sandinistas in Nicaragua?

Accepted Answer

This was part of the Iran-Contra affair during Ronald Reagan's presidency, where arms were sold to Iran in the hope of securing the release of hostages and to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

Question 3

Self-published underground writings that criticized the Soviet government were called

Accepted Answer

Samizdat refers to the clandestine copying and distribution of literature banned by the state, especially prevalent in the Soviet Union. This was a key method for dissidents to spread their writings and ideas criticizing the government.

Question 4

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led an Iranian revolt in 1979 against the former shah and then implemented

Accepted Answer

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which resulted in the establishment of an Islamic Republic. This new government was characterized by a parliamentary system under the strict control of religious officials, with Khomeini himself holding ultimate authority.

Question 5

Who was the last Shah of Iran?

Accepted Answer

Muhammad Reza Pahlavi was the last Shah of Iran, ruling from 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

Question 6

The Sandinistas overthrew the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza in what country?

Accepted Answer

The Sandinistas, formally known as the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), overthrew the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza Debayle in Nicaragua in 1979.

Question 7

Which country was engaged in an "unwinnable war" with Afghanistan in the 1980s?

Accepted Answer

The USSR (Soviet Union) was engaged in an "unwinnable war" with Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989, a conflict known as the Soviet-Afghan War.

Question 8

The United States undermined and ultimately helped overthrow which democratically elected socialist leader in Chile?

Accepted Answer

Salvador Allende was the democratically elected socialist leader of Chile who was overthrown in a coup d'état that was supported by the United States in 1973.

Question 9

Which of the following is one of the "Asian Tigers"?

Accepted Answer

All of these locations, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore, are known as the "Asian Tigers" due to their high rates of economic growth and rapid industrialization from the 1960s to the 1990s.

Question 10

The first Latin American nation to experience conservative reaction to the Cuban revolution by the army overthrowing their constitutional government in 1964 was

Accepted Answer

Brazil experienced a military coup in 1964, which led to a conservative backlash against the leftist government in power, partly in reaction to the Cuban Revolution. This event marked the beginning of a military dictatorship that lasted until 1985.

Question 11

The "Brazilian Solution" refers to

Accepted Answer

The "Brazilian Solution" refers to the period during which Brazil was under a military dictatorship (1964-1985), characterized by political repression alongside government-driven efforts to promote rapid industrialization and economic development. This approach combined authoritarian rule with strategies aimed at transforming the country's economy.

Question 12

The policy of restructuring called perestroika in the Soviet Union was authorized by

Accepted Answer

Mikhail Gorbachev was the leader of the Soviet Union who introduced the policy of perestroika, which aimed at restructuring the economic and political system of the country.

Question 13

The "Dirty War" fought between the military and leftist groups was in

Accepted Answer

The "Dirty War" refers to the period of state terrorism in Argentina from 1976 to 1983, where the military government fought against leftist groups, dissidents, and anyone perceived to be associated with socialism.

Question 14

Where did the Chinese government brutally crack down on 1989 protests, killing hundreds and jailing thousands?

Accepted Answer

The Chinese government brutally cracked down on protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989, resulting in the deaths of hundreds and the imprisonment of thousands.

Question 15

Under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, China

Accepted Answer

Under Deng Xiaoping's leadership, China initiated significant economic reforms that moved the country away from a purely state-run economy towards a more market-oriented one. This shift included opening up to foreign investment and introducing market mechanisms within the domestic economy, leading to rapid economic growth.

Question 16

The keiretsu were

Accepted Answer

The keiretsu were an alliance of corporations and banks that dominated the Japanese economy, integrating various industries and sectors through cross-shareholdings and strategic partnerships. This system played a significant role in Japan's post-war economic development.

Question 17

The Nicaraguan counter-revolutionaries funded by the Reagan administration were known as the

Accepted Answer

The Nicaraguan counter-revolutionaries funded by the Reagan administration were known as the contras. They were opposed to the Sandinista government that had come to power in 1979.

Question 18

Crucial to the success of the Japanese economy in the 1970s and 1980s was

Accepted Answer

Japan's economic success during the 1970s and 1980s was significantly aided by protective tariffs and import regulations that limited foreign competition, allowing domestic industries to grow and become competitive on a global scale.

Question 19

Which U.S. president worked to reestablish Panamanian sovereignty over the U.S. built and controlled Canal Zone?

Accepted Answer

Jimmy Carter was instrumental in the negotiations that led to the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which were signed in 1977. These treaties agreed to transfer control of the Panama Canal from the United States to Panama by the end of 1999.

Question 20

Neo-liberalism in Latin America eroded due to

Accepted Answer

Political scandals and a slowing world economy contributed to the erosion of neo-liberalism in Latin America, as these factors undermined confidence in the economic model and led to calls for alternative approaches.

Quiz 32: The End of the Cold War and the Challenge of Economic Development and Immigration