Question

question 3 of 20
which of the following describes a major outcome of world war ii?

a. south american and african countries that had not participated in
the war avoided economic destruction, allowing them to greatly
increase their influence.

b. japan and germany were harshly punished for their wartime
aggression and forced to pay huge amounts of money to the
victorious allied powers.

c. the united states and the soviet union became the worlds two
most powerful states, leading to a global struggle between
democracy and communism.

d. the allied powers continued their alliance even after the war was
concluded, creating a massive military force that opposed
revolutions around the world.

Explanation:

• Option A: Non-participating South American/African nations still faced economic disruptions from the global war and did not see a major immediate rise in influence.
• Option B: While Germany faced harsh reparations, Japan's post-war punishment was focused on demilitarization rather than massive monetary reparations to Allied powers.
• Option C: WWII left the U.S. and Soviet Union as the only global superpowers, with their opposing ideologies (democracy vs. communism) sparking the Cold War, a defining post-war outcome.
• Option D: The Allied alliance fractured almost immediately after WWII, as tensions between the U.S.-led bloc and the Soviet bloc emerged, leading to division rather than a unified anti-revolutionary force.

Answer:

C. The United States and the Soviet Union became the world's two most powerful states, leading to a global struggle between democracy and communism.