What impact did the collapse of the Soviet Union have on the end of segregation in South Africa?
A. The decline of the Soviet Union allowed for the United Nations to intervene in the segregation policies of the South African government.
B. The decline of the Soviet Union led to a reduction of trade for South Africa, weakening the government and leading native South Africans to revolt.
C. The decline of the Soviet Union allowed the United States to become involved in the internal affairs of other countries without opposition.
D. The decline of the Soviet Union made Communism less of a threat, so the South African government loosened restrictions on anti-apartheid groups.
Is the answer A?
I disagree.
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/impact-collapse-ussr-south-africa-grade-12
Is the answer D?
Yes, D.
Thank you
No, the correct answer is D. The decline of the Soviet Union made Communism less of a threat, so the South African government loosened restrictions on anti-apartheid groups.
To arrive at this answer, you can break down each option and evaluate it based on historical context:
A. The decline of the Soviet Union allowed for the United Nations to intervene in the segregation policies of the South African government.
This option is not entirely accurate. While the decline of the Soviet Union may have created a more favorable international environment for addressing segregation in South Africa, it did not directly lead to United Nations intervention. The United Nations' involvement in South Africa's apartheid policies primarily began in the 1960s, well before the collapse of the Soviet Union.
B. The decline of the Soviet Union led to a reduction of trade for South Africa, weakening the government and leading native South Africans to revolt.
This option is not accurate. While the decline of the Soviet Union did result in some reduction of trade for South Africa, it was not a direct cause of native South Africans revolting against the government. The anti-apartheid movement in South Africa was primarily driven by internal factors and the resistance of the Black majority against the racially discriminatory policies.
C. The decline of the Soviet Union allowed the United States to become involved in the internal affairs of other countries without opposition.
This option is also not accurate. While the decline of the Soviet Union did reduce Cold War tensions and allowed the United States more freedom in engaging with other countries, it was not specifically linked to the end of segregation in South Africa.
D. The decline of the Soviet Union made Communism less of a threat, so the South African government loosened restrictions on anti-apartheid groups.
This option is the most accurate. The collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s meant that communism was no longer a significant ideological influence or a perceived threat in the international arena. This change, in turn, reduced the South African government's rationale for implementing strict restrictions on anti-apartheid groups. The newly opened political environment allowed for negotiations between the government and anti-apartheid leaders, ultimately leading to the end of racial segregation in South Africa.