Question

what was a major point of conflict between the soviet union and the united states at the end of world war ii?
the americans demanded soviet help with japan and the russians refused.
the americans wanted more severe punishment of germans than the soviets.
the americans wanted to rebuild germany, and the soviets wanted it weakened as much as possible.
the americans wanted a united states of europe, which the soviets saw as threat to their power.
question 2(multiple choice worth 5 points)
(07.07 mc)
according to soviet leadership, what was the only way of ensuring a lasting peace in the world?
keeping germany weak
a revolution replacing capitalist elites with a global classless society
a strong united nations security council
free liberal democracies rather than monarchies throughout the world

Explanation:

Question 1

• Analyze Option 1: The Soviet Union did agree to help with Japan (declared war on Japan after Germany's defeat), so this is incorrect.
• Analyze Option 2: The Soviets actually wanted harsher punishment for Germany (due to heavy Soviet casualties), so this is incorrect.
• Analyze Option 3: After WWII, the US wanted to rebuild Germany (to create a market and prevent radicalism) while the Soviets wanted to weaken it (due to war damage on Soviet soil and ideological reasons), this matches historical context.
• Analyze Option 4: The "United States of Europe" was not a major US post - WWII goal, so this is incorrect.

• Analyze Option 1: While keeping Germany weak was a short - term Soviet goal, the long - term Soviet view on lasting peace was based on communist ideology.
• Analyze Option 2: Soviet leadership, based on Marxist - Leninist ideology, believed that a global classless society (achieved through revolution against capitalist elites) was the only way to ensure lasting peace, as capitalism was seen as the source of war and inequality.
• Analyze Option 3: The Soviets were skeptical of the UN (dominated by Western powers initially) and it was not their main vision for lasting peace.
• Analyze Option 4: The Soviets' ideology was communist, not liberal democracy, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

C. The Americans wanted to rebuild Germany, and the Soviets wanted it weakened as much as possible.

Question 2