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Difficulty: EasyThe End of the Cold War

"When they ask me how it is that we in Czechoslovakia succeeded in overthrowing the totalitarian system so quickly, I always reply that it was not we who did it. The system simply collapsed because it was built on lies, and it could not withstand the pressure of truth. The collapse of the communist empire was not just a military defeat of one bloc by another, but the internal failure of a system that ignored human nature and economic reality. Of course, the firm stance of the democratic West and its defense of human rights provided us with a crucial beacon of hope, but the ultimate collapse came from within, driven by economic stagnation and the moral bankruptcy of the regime."

— Václav Havel, President of Czechoslovakia, Address to a Joint Session of the United States Congress, February 21, 1990

Which of the following explanations for the end of the Cold War is most consistent with the view expressed in the excerpt?

  1. A combination of internal economic and political crises within the Soviet bloc and external diplomatic pressure from the West led to the end of the Cold War.Answer
  2. B
    The Cold War ended solely because of aggressive United States military spending and defense projects like the Strategic Defense Initiative.
  3. C
    The collapse of the communist system was caused exclusively by direct military interventions led by the United States and its NATO allies in Eastern Europe.
  4. D
    The dissolution of the Soviet Union was triggered only by United States trade embargoes that completely isolated the Soviet economy.

Answer

A combination of internal economic and political crises within the Soviet bloc and external diplomatic pressure from the West led to the end of the Cold War.
The correct option correctly identifies the dual nature of the Cold War's end. The excerpt outlines that the collapse came 'from within' due to economic stagnation and moral bankruptcy, while also noting that the firm stance of the democratic West and its defense of human rights served as a 'crucial beacon of hope.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document to identify the speaker's main argument.
The speaker, Václav Havel, argues that the collapse of the communist system was primarily due to internal failures, such as economic stagnation and moral bankruptcy, though he also notes that Western defense of human rights acted as a beacon of hope.
Understanding the source is crucial to matching it with the correct historical explanation.
2
Evaluate the answer choices to find which one matches both the stimulus's message and historical consensus on the end of the Cold War.
The option asserting a combination of internal Soviet structural crises and external Western pressure aligns perfectly with Havel's description of internal failure and external Western support.
This step eliminates options that overemphasize single factors at the expense of others.

Key Concept

The End of the Cold War
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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The End of the Cold War

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