12.5_6

Question 1

Question: Who was the first human to orbit Earth and which spacecraft was used?

Answer 1

Answer: Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth in 1961 aboard Vostok.

Question 2

Question: Name the first American to travel into space and the year it happened.

Answer 2

Answer: Alan Shepard in 1961.

Question 3

Question: Who was the first American astronaut to orbit Earth and when did this occur?

Answer 3

Answer: John Glenn in February 1962.

Question 4

Question: List the crew of the Apollo 11 mission and describe their achievement.

Answer 4

Answer: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin (moonwalkers), and Michael Collins (command module), 1969.

Question 5

Question: What impact did the space program have on education and technology in the United States?

Answer 5

Answer: Advanced math and science education, spurred technology in computing, increased government spending.

Question 6

Question: What led to the Cuban Missile Crisis after the Bay of Pigs Invasion?

Answer 6

Answer: Soviet missile supplies to Cuba post-Bay of Pigs.

Question 7

Question: How did Kennedy respond to the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba?

Answer 7

Answer: Ordered a full naval blockade of Cuba.

Question 8

Question: Detail the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Answer 8

Answer: Missiles removed from Cuba in exchange for a U.S. non-invasion pledge and secret missile removal from Turkey.

Question 9

Question: How did the Berlin Wall come into existence and what was its purpose?

Answer 9

Answer: Built in 1961 to stop East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin.

Question 10

Question: What was the significance of the “hotline” established during the Cold War?

Answer 10

Answer: Enabled direct communication between the Kremlin and the White House to prevent crises.

Question 11

Question: What were the key features and outcomes of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968?

Answer 11

Answer: Prevented nuclear weapons spread, promoted disarmament and peaceful nuclear use.

Question 12

Question: What was Nixon’s approach to foreign policy and how did it differ from previous strategies?

Answer 12

Answer: Focused on pragmatic engagement with powerful nations using realpolitik.

Question 13

Question: Describe the outcomes of Nixon’s 1971 visit to China.

Answer 13

Answer: Normalized relations with China, opened diplomatic and economic exchanges.

Question 14

Question: What was the purpose and outcome of the SALT I Treaty?

Answer 14

Answer: Limited numbers of ICBMs and submarine-launched missiles, marking a major arms control step.

Question 15

Question: How did Reagan’s policies contribute to the end of the Cold War?

Answer 15

Answer: Military buildup and strategic initiatives stressed the Soviet economy, catalyzing political changes.

Question 16

Question: Detail the events leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Answer 16

Answer: Economic issues, nationalistic movements, and Gorbachev’s reforms led to its dissolution.