Question

According to the passage, the fundamental change in U.S. foreign policy directed towards Latin America:

• A. resulted in a deterioration of U.S.–Latin American relations.
• B. was responsible for Peron remaining as a dictator in Peru.
• C. recognized that economic aid alone would prevent social revolutions.
• D. provided for increased military and economic aid to prevent the spread of communism in Latin America.

Hint:

When identifying a “fundamental change” in policy, focus on the new strategy described, not just previous practices or isolated outcomes.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The passage describes how U.S. policy evolved under leaders like Eisenhower and Kennedy to include significant economic aid and some military support, with the explicit aim of preventing communist influence in Latin America.
Earlier approaches tended to avoid reform and support the status quo, often backing military dictators who opposed leftist movements.
Kennedy’s “Alliance for Progress” represented a shift towards large-scale aid programs designed to improve living standards and thus reduce the appeal of communism.
Option (a) is incorrect — while there were tensions, the focus of the question is on the *policy change*, not on worsening relations.
Option (b) is incorrect — Perón was from Argentina, not Peru, and his dictatorship was supported earlier as part of status quo maintenance, not as part of the described fundamental change.
Option (c) is incorrect — Kennedy’s plan recognized that economic aid needed to be paired with social reforms, not that aid alone was sufficient.
Option (d) correctly captures the dual nature of the policy shift: using both economic and, when necessary, military aid to prevent communist spread.