Question

which statements describe the relationship between the united states and the soviet union in the early cold war era?
select two correct answers.
\from stettin in the baltic to trieste in the adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent. behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of central and eastern europe.\
-winston churchill, speech at westminster college, march 1946
the united states allied with the soviet union to extract natural resources from central europe.
the soviet union agreed to allow democratic elections in eastern europe with help from the united states.
the united states distrusted the soviet union and feared that communism would spread worldwide.
the soviet union sealed itself and eastern and central european countries off from democratic influence.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first option: The US and USSR were not allies for extracting resources from Central Europe in the early Cold War; they were rivals. So this is incorrect.
2. Analyze the second option: The Soviet Union established communist governments in Eastern Europe and did not allow democratic elections with US help. So this is incorrect.
3. Analyze the third option: The US had a policy of containment due to distrust of the USSR and fear of communist spread, which is consistent with early Cold War dynamics. This is correct.
4. Analyze the fourth option: The "iron curtain" speech and the Soviet actions of creating a buffer zone of communist states by sealing off Eastern/Central Europe from democratic influence (like the Marshall Plan - related democratic efforts) is accurate. This is correct.

Answer:

• The United States distrusted the Soviet Union and feared that communism would spread worldwide.
• The Soviet Union sealed itself and Eastern and Central European countries off from democratic influence.