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Difficulty: MediumOrigins of the Cold War and Containment

Source: National Security Council Report 68 (NSC-68), April 1950:

'The assault on free institutions is worldwide now, and in the context of the present polarization of power, a defeat of free institutions anywhere is a defeat which is consistent with progress toward achieving our fundamental purpose... [This requires] a rapid build-up of political, economic, and military strength in the free world... [to] frustrate the Kremlin design.'

The policy recommendations outlined in the excerpt most directly contributed to which of the following developments in United States foreign policy during the Cold War?

  1. A
    The adoption of an active rollback strategy to militarily liberate nations already under Soviet control.
  2. A massive peacetime increase in military spending and the globalization of containment commitments.Answer
  3. C
    The restriction of American security guarantees exclusively to Western Hemisphere nations.
  4. D
    A rejection of international alliances in favor of the isolationist policies of the interwar era.

Answer

A massive peacetime increase in military spending and the globalization of containment commitments.
The document NSC-68 advocated for a dramatic expansion of U.S. military power and global alliances to confront the Soviet threat, directly leading to a massive increase in the defense budget and the expansion of military commitments worldwide during the Cold War.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text to identify its primary argument.
The text argues that the threat of Soviet communism is global ('worldwide') and requires a 'rapid build-up of political, economic, and military strength' to defend 'free institutions anywhere.'
Understanding the core argument of the stimulus is necessary to connect it to historical developments.
2
Contextualize the document within the origins of the Cold War and containment policy.
The document is NSC-68 (1950), which recommended a massive expansion of the U.S. defense budget and the militarization of containment.
Placing the document in its correct historical context helps identify the policy changes it influenced.
3
Evaluate the options to find the development that directly aligns with the document's recommendations.
The massive increase in peacetime defense spending and global containment alliances directly match the recommendation for a military build-up to protect free institutions globally.
Matching the document's intent to actual historical outcomes identifies the correct option.

Key Concept

The militarization and globalization of containment policy as outlined in NSC-68.
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Origins of the Cold War and Containment

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