How did the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbacchev improve U.S -Soviet relations during the 1980s?

A. He restricted the Soviet people more than before.
B. He urged the Soviet people to strengthen their communist ideas.
C. He gave the Soviet people more political and economic freedom
D. He worked hard to build nuclear weapons.

I know it's surely not A

That leaves three possibilities. I'll be glad to check your answer.

I think it's C

Yes, C.

To determine how Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev improved U.S-Soviet relations during the 1980s, we can look at historical events and actions he took during his tenure.

Option A: "He restricted the Soviet people more than before." This option is not accurate. Gorbachev's policies were actually aimed at initiating political and economic reforms, which resulted in greater relaxation of restrictions, such as opening up political discussions and loosening censorship.

Option B: "He urged the Soviet people to strengthen their communist ideas." This option is also not accurate. Gorbachev's leadership marked a departure from strict adherence to Soviet communist ideology. He introduced groundbreaking policies such as Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (economic restructuring) that promoted political and economic reforms.

Option C: "He gave the Soviet people more political and economic freedom." This option is correct. Gorbachev is credited with granting the Soviet people more political and economic freedom through his policies of Glasnost and Perestroika. These reforms allowed for greater public expression and participation in political discussions, as well as the emergence of a market-oriented economy in the Soviet Union.

Option D: "He worked hard to build nuclear weapons." This option is not accurate. Gorbachev was actually focused on reducing nuclear weapons and promoting arms control agreements. His efforts, such as signing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with the United States in 1987, contributed to the easing of tension between the two superpowers.

Therefore, the correct answer is C. Mikhail Gorbachev improved U.S-Soviet relations during the 1980s by giving the Soviet people more political and economic freedom through his policies of Glasnost and Perestroika.