Part II
THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION
ctions: Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several paragraphs addressing the task
below, and a conclusion.
Theme: Foreign Policy (Cold War)
Following World War II, the threat of communist expansion led the United States
to take diplomatic, military, and economic actions to limit the global influence of
the Soviet Union and China. These Cold War actions met with varying degrees of
success.
Task:
Select two specific actions taken by the United States to limit the expansion of
communism during the Cold War and for each
• Describe the historical circumstances that led to the action
• Discuss the extent to which the action was successful in limiting the expansion
of communism
You may use any action taken by the United States to limit the expansion of communism
during the Cold War. Some suggestions you might wish to consider include the
implementation of the Marshall Plan (1947–1952), the establishment of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization [NATO] (1949), intervention in Korea (1950–1953), the blockade of Cuba
(1962), the escalation of the Vietnam War (1964–1973), the visit of President Richard Nixon
to China (1972), and the pursuit of the Strategic Defense Initiative [SDI] (1983–1989).
You are not limited to these suggestions.
