Question

based on your knowledge of the american military and the graph below, answer the question that follows.
(billions of dollars)
united states defense budget
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0
4 4 5 5 6 7 8 9 0
8 9 4 7 9 5 7 9 8
(year)
the steady decline in defense spending between 1987 and 1999 would best be explained by
the first gulf war
the end of the vietnam war
the end of the korean war
the end of the cold war

Explanation:

1. Analyze each option:

• The First Gulf War (1990 - 1991) would likely increase defense spending, not cause a decline, so this option is incorrect.
• The Vietnam War ended in 1975, which is far from 1987 - 1999, so this option is incorrect.
• The Korean War ended in 1953, also far from 1987 - 1999, so this option is incorrect.
• The Cold War ended around 1991. With the end of the Cold War, the United States had less need for high - level defense spending related to the Soviet threat, which can explain the decline in defense spending between 1987 and 1999.

Answer:

D. the end of the Cold War