Question

Following World War II, which problem was the United States most concerned with regarding Latin America?

• A. Economic stability
• B. Political ideology
• C. Religious persecution
• D. Military dictatorship

Hint:

When identifying a country's foreign policy concern, focus on the recurring theme or fear expressed in its actions — in Cold War contexts, this often relates to ideology over other factors.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The passage makes it clear that in the postwar years, the United States was primarily worried about the spread of communism in Latin America.
It states that the U.S. preferred supporting military dictatorships over reformist leaders if there was any chance those reformers might lean towards the political “left.”
This reflects a Cold War mindset where controlling political ideology, especially preventing communist influence, was a dominant foreign policy goal.
Option (a) is incorrect — while economic stability was important, the primary fear motivating U.S. actions was ideological.
Option (c) is incorrect — there is no mention of religious persecution in the passage as a driving concern.
Option (d) is incorrect — the U.S. often supported military dictatorships, so it was not the problem they sought to eliminate.
Thus, the main concern was political ideology, specifically the prevention of communism, making (b) correct.