After the war: the United Nations, human rights and rebuilding Europe

Grade 10 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Card A (March 1948): "The Marshall Plan (Economic Cooperation Act)". Who made it: the US Congress. For whom: the countries of Western Europe. Why: to rebuild Western Europe's economies. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Funding eventually rose to over $12 billion for rebuilding Western Europe. The plan was applied solely to Western Europe, without the Soviet Bloc. Context (what else was happening): Europe was ravaged by war, its economies worsened in the winter of 1946-1947, and US leaders feared Communist expansion. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It is a US law. It does not show how Europeans saw the aid. Card B (June 1948 to May 1949): "The Berlin airlift". Who made it: the United States and the United Kingdom. For whom: the people of West Berlin. Why: to bring food and fuel to West Berlin by air. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Soviet forces had blocked rail, road and water access to the Allied-held parts of Berlin. Planes flew in food and fuel until the Soviets lifted the blockade on May 12, 1949. Context (what else was happening): The Western Allies were planning a new German state from their zones. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It tells the Western side's actions; it does not give the Soviet leaders' own reasons. Card C (1949): "The North Atlantic Treaty". Who made it: 12 countries: the United States, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the United Kingdom. For whom: its members and the Soviet Union. Why: to give collective security against the Soviet Union. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The members agreed to treat an attack against one as an attack against all. The treaty created NATO. Context (what else was happening): It came during the Berlin blockade, a year after five Western European countries signed the Brussels Treaty. Limits (what this source cannot tell us): It is a promise to defend each other. It cannot show whether it would ever be used. Below the strip: Card summaries are in our words, from the US State Department's Office of the Historian.

3. 1.

   By card A, which countries did the Marshall Plan aid, Bo asks?

   • The countries of Western Europe
   • Each country in Europe and Asia
   • The Soviet Bloc countries
   • Just the United Kingdom
4. 2.

   By card A's context box, why did US leaders want the plan, Esme asks?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • Europe was ravaged and they feared Communism spreading
   • Europe had grown rich during the war
   • The Berlin blockade had ended
   • NATO had asked for money
5. 3.

   When did the Soviet blockade of West Berlin begin, by the strip, Jun asks?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • June 5, 1947
   • March 12, 1947
   • May 12, 1949
   • June 24, 1948
6. 4.

   By card B, what did the airlift carry, Kira asks?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • Ballots for an election
   • Marshall Plan money for the Soviets
   • Soldiers for a battle
   • Food and fuel
7. 5.

   On card C, what does collective security mean, Milo asks?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • An attack on one is an attack on all
   • Money to rebuild factories
   • Each country defends itself alone
   • Food flown into a city
8. 6.

   By card C, how many countries signed the North Atlantic Treaty, Noah asks?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • 120 countries
   • 50 countries
   • 12 countries
   • 5 countries
9. 7.

   By card C's context box, what was happening when NATO was formed, Pia asks?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • The end of the Cold War
   • The Marshall speech at Harvard
   • The Berlin blockade
   • The founding of the UN
10. 8.

    By card B's limits box, what can card B not give Ren?

    Use the picture in question 1.

    • What the planes carried
    • When the blockade ended
    • Who ran the airlift
    • The Soviet leaders' own reasons
11. 9.

    How do cards A to C show Europe dividing, Tala asks?

    Use the picture in question 1.

    • They show Europe uniting under one government
    • They show the Soviets joining NATO
    • Aid, the blockade and NATO split East from West
    • They show the end of the UN
12. 10.

    How many years passed from the Truman speech (1947) to the North Atlantic Treaty (1949), Zee asks?

    Use the picture in question 1.

    • 3,896 years
    • 2 years
    • 12 years
    • 1 year