Question

question 12 of 20
the start of the cold war can be attributed to which of these factors?
a. soviet leaders accused the united states of committing war crimes by using nuclear weapons during world war ii.
b. the victorious allied powers forced the defeated soviet union to pay reparations following world war ii.
c. the soviet union and its allies refused to join the united nations following the end of world war ii.
d. world war ii ended with the soviet union establishing communist governments throughout eastern europe.

Explanation:

After World War II, the Soviet Union established communist governments in Eastern Europe. This led to tensions with the Western powers (led by the US) who had a capitalist - democratic ideology. The Soviet actions in Eastern Europe were seen as an expansion of Soviet influence, which was a key factor in the start of the Cold War.

• Option A: The use of nuclear weapons by the US (on Japan) was not a direct accusation by the Soviets as a war - crime trigger for the Cold War start.
• Option B: The Soviet Union was not a defeated power in World War II; it was one of the Allied victors.
• Option C: The Soviet Union was a founding member of the United Nations.

Answer:

D. World War II ended with the Soviet Union establishing communist governments throughout Eastern Europe.