Chapter 29 Learning Curve, Chapter 30 Learning Curve, Chapter 31 Learning Curve
Why had the U.S. steel industry failed to replace outdated plants and equipment in the postwar years? -In the postwar economic boom, no new equipment was available. -American steel producers enjoyed a world market without serious competition. -American steel producers had struggled to remain afloat and could not have afforded new equipment. -Steel was an old industry with little technological change.
American steel producers enjoyed a world market without serious competition.
Why did suburban growth in the 1960s and 1970s benefit conservatives politically? A. Conservatives were heavily funded by real estate developers. B. Suburban traditions of privatization favored conservative public policies. C. Suburbs are generally wealthy and Protestant. D. American suburbs remained committed to libertarianism.
B. Suburban traditions of privatization favored conservative public policies.
Why did Iranians mistrust the United States after the 1950s? A. American support for Iraq in its war with Iran B. American seizure of Iranian oil fields C. CIA involvement in a coup that replaced a democratic government D. American support for Afghan fighters
C. CIA involvement in a coup that replaced a democratic government
Which 1960 figure was largely responsible for igniting the New Right in the early 1960s? A. John F. Kennedy B. Lyndon Johnson C. Ronald Reagan D. Nelson Rockefeller
C. Ronald Reagan
In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), which challenged a state antisodomy law, Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in his opinion, "The State cannot demean their existence or control their destiny by making their private sexual conduct a crime. Their right to liberty under the Due Process Clause gives them the full right to engage in their conduct without intervention of the government. 'It is a promise of the Constitution that there is a realm of personal liberty which the government may not enter.'" Given Reagan's condemnation of those intent on "subordinating us to government rule and regulation," what would he have thought of this opinion? A. He wouldn't have supported this decision because it didn't support states' rights. B. He would have agreed because this ruling supported "the rule of law under God." C.He wouldn't have supported this decision because it didn't fit with his religious conservatism. D. He would have supported the ruling because it bolstered Americans' sense of collective self-confidence and national pride.
C.He wouldn't have supported this decision because it didn't fit with his religious conservatism.
Why did the two parties become more partisan and rigid after the 1970s? -Committee chairs lost power to party leaders in the House and the Senate. -The declining influence of lobbyists made politics more ideological. -They continued to debate responsibility for the Watergate scandal. -The lack of third parties made Republicans and Democrats more hostile.
Committee chairs lost power to party leaders in the House and the Senate.
The Watergate scandal proved to be a long-term boon to which group? -The Republican establishment -Third-party challengers -Liberal Democrats -Conservative Republicans
Conservative Republicans
What contributed to the expanding role of China as the manufacturer of America's cheap consumer goods? A. Break down inside the Chinese Communist Party B. The deregulation of American finance C. The poor quality of American manufacturing D. China's deliberate decision to keep its currency weak
D.
What followed the Bush administration's March 2003 invasion of Iraq? A. The army found and dismantled Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons. B. It demonstrated Saddam Hussein had connections to Osama bin Laden and the 9/11 attacks. C. He won support from European countries that had initially opposed the invasion. D. Terrorists entered the chaotic country and launched assaults that killed thousands.
D.
Which nation did the Soviet Union invade in 1979? A. East Germany B. Turkey C. Czechoslovakia D. Afghanistan
D. Afghanistan
Why was Ronald Reagan forced to reverse his course on tax cuts in 1982? A. The war against Iraq was becoming too costly. B. Secret arms sales to Iran did not deliver the revenue he had hoped for. C. His budget director tinkered with the numbers in the original budget. D. There was a deep recession in which unemployment reached 10 percent.
D. There was a deep recession in which unemployment reached 10 percent.
Why were the uprisings against Communist rule in Eastern Europe called "Velvet Revolutions"? A. Elites led the Eastern European democratic movements and velvet symbolized their status. B. The popular movements also targeted the often velvet-dressed Catholic clergy. C. Violent coups in those nations drenched their capitals with blood, turning them "red as velvet." D. These revolutions were all peaceful and "soft as velvet."
D. These revolutions were all peaceful and "soft as velvet."
Why had conservative Republicans failed to win the allegiance of American voters in the two decades after World War II? A. Their anti-Communist tirades were too virulent. B. Their fiscal conservatism was too radical. C. Their opposition to labor unions was too extreme. D. Voters preferred liberal or moderate leaders.
D. Voters preferred liberal or moderate leaders.
Which statement describes the feminist movement in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s? -The feminist movement had a significant impact only on the lives of white middle-class heterosexual women. -The women's movement declined as soon as feminist activists gained access to highly paid corporate jobs. -It consisted of a relatively small number of women whose activism had a large presence but little effect. -Feminist activism addressed many issues, took a variety of forms, and affected millions of women.
Feminist activism addressed many issues, took a variety of forms, and affected millions of women.
Which Supreme Court decision struck down an 1879 state law prohibiting the purchase and use of contraceptive devices by couples as a violation of their constitutional right to privacy? -Roe v. Wade (1973) -Furman v. Georgia (1972) -Bowers v. Hardwick (1986) -Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
How did President Richard Nixon try to tackle inflation in the 1970s? -He instituted rationing of essential raw materials. -He imposed temporary price and wage controls in 1971. -He asked workers and businesses for voluntary restraint. -He enacted dramatic tax increases.
He imposed temporary price and wage controls in 1971.
Why did President Jimmy Carter have such chilly relations with congressional leaders even from his own party? -He was strongly under the influence of lobbyists. -He was controlled by corporate interests. -He had no respect for their frank religiosity. -He operated with an outsider strategy.
He operated with an outsider strategy.
Why was San Francisco politician Harvey Milk significant? -He was the first openly gay person to win elected office. -He was elected mayor of San Francisco, which was shocking for a gay candidate. -He secured passage of a gay marriage law in California. -He represented the new emerging gay political power.
He represented the new emerging gay political power.
Why did nearly every major American city struggle to pay its bills in the 1970s? -Inflation and shrinking tax revenues created budget crises. -They had dramatically expanded eligibility for welfare. -They dramatically cut property taxes. -Corruption in urban politics led to waste of funds.
Inflation and shrinking tax revenues created budget crises.
Why did property owners and retirees with fixed incomes suddenly face growing tax bills in California in the late 1970s? -The state government sharply increased tax rates. -Inflation pushed real estate values upward. -The state dropped state income taxes to raise revenue only from property taxes. -Unscrupulous lenders failed to disclose the tax burdens to new property owners.
Inflation pushed real estate values upward.
Why did Israeli-Arab tensions in the region grow closer to boiling over between 1967 and 1973? -Egypt and Syria attacked Israel in 1973. -The nation of Israel refused to recognize Syria, its northern neighbor. -Israel had gained considerable territory in the Six-Day War of 1967. -American oil corporations played Israel against Arab nations.
Israel had gained considerable territory in the Six-Day War of 1967.
How did the economic decline of the 1970s affect organized labor in the United States? -It encouraged labor unions to strive for stronger cooperation with management. -The process of deindustrialization encouraged more workers to join labor unions to fight for job security. -It decreased the number of union jobs, which hurt union membership and power. -It decreased the number of union jobs but increased wages.
It decreased the number of union jobs, which hurt union membership and power.
How did the War Powers Act of 1973 seek to limit presidential power? -It required the president to secure congressional approval for any substantial deployment of troops abroad. -The act gave Congress the power to recall American troops from any overseas deployment. -It required the Supreme Court to evaluate the constitutionality of a president's commitment of troops. -It stipulated that the National Security Council keep Congress informed about the military status of any overseas intervention.
It required the president to secure congressional approval for any substantial deployment of troops abroad.
Which statement describes the impact of the 1973 Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade? -It said that states could not prohibit abortion in the first trimester. -It provided for abortion on demand for all women of childbearing age. -It left the question of the legality of abortion up to states. -It prohibited the use of federal funds for abortions.
It said that states could not prohibit abortion in the first trimester.
In the 1970s, the United States faced rising competition in industrial production from which nations? -Japan and the Soviet Union -Japan and West Germany -Canada and Great Britain -China and Australia
Japan and West Germany
Which development of the 1960s or 1970s did the United States consider a blow to its national pride? -In 1968, the United States had to adopt the gold standard. -Per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in the United States dropped considerably in 1971 and 1972. -Nine Western European countries surpassed the United States in GDP per capita by 1980. -U.S. troops were expelled from South Vietnam by the Vietcong in 1972.
Nine Western European countries surpassed the United States in GDP per capita by 1980.
What was the name of the cartel formed by oil-exporting countries in 1960? -OPEC -PAC -CREEP -EPA
OPEC
Which statement reflects the impact of Phyllis Schlafly during the 1970s? -She organized a movement to defeat the Equal Rights Amendment. -She became the female spokesperson for liberalism. -She advocated for government subsidies for contraceptives. -She was the first woman candidate for president.
She organized a movement to defeat the Equal Rights Amendment.
What book from the early 1960s gave an impetus to the environmental movement? -The Feminine Mystique -The Affluent Society -Silent Spring -Unsafe at Any Speed
Silent Spring
In his speech at the 1980 Republican National Convention, candidate Ronald Reagan said, "Make no mistake. We will not permit the safety of our people or our environmental heritage to be jeopardized, but we are going to reaffirm that the economic prosperity of our people is a fundamental part of our environment." What was Reagan suggesting with these remarks? -That environmental protection would bring greater economic prosperity to the country -That protecting American economic prosperity was just as important, if not more important, as protecting the environment -That the environmental movement was a Communist plot against the United States -That American economic prosperity and care for the environment were wholly incompatible
That protecting American economic prosperity was just as important, if not more important, as protecting the environment
Why did America's share of world trade drop from 32 percent in 1955 to 18 percent in 1970? -Currency devaluation in China and Europe cheapened American exports. -American consumers were demanding more value from the products they produced. -The United States faced more industrial competition from Germany and Japan. -Countries across the world boycotted American goods because of the Vietnam War.
The United States faced more industrial competition from Germany and Japan.
What was the significance of biologist Rachel's Carson's 1962 best seller Silent Spring? -It made Americans aware that atomic war would devastate the planet and the human race. -It publicized the story of the children of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed for espionage in 1953. -It raised awareness about the problem of noise pollution in modern industrial societies. -The book described and publicized the harmful effects of toxic chemicals on the environment.
The book described and publicized the harmful effects of toxic chemicals on the environment.
Why did the federal budget deficit grow in the late 1960s? -Presidents Johnson and Nixon cut taxes dramatically. -The drop in foreign imports caused a loss in tariff revenues. -Rising interest rates on the national debt became increasingly burdensome. -The government spent large sums on the Great Society and Vietnam War.
The government spent large sums on the Great Society and Vietnam War.
Why did more than 100,000 people flee their homes in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in March 1979? -A race riot in downtown Harrisburg got out of control. -The reactor core at a nearby nuclear plant nearly melted down. -False reports about a hurricane prompted a panic. -A local evangelist preacher predicted the end of the world that day.
The reactor core at a nearby nuclear plant nearly melted down.
Why did conservatives in Congress push for economic deregulation and tax cuts in the late 1970s? -They argued that Keynesian economics had failed. -They were primarily interested in enriching themselves. -They wanted to ease the tax burden on the poor. -They argued that these moves would increase the federal deficit.
They argued that Keynesian economics had failed.
Based on the study of the Campbell Works of the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company, what happened to most laid-off steelworkers in the late 1970s? -They retired early. -They moved elsewhere. -They remained unemployed. -They found local work in low-paying, service-sector jobs.
They found local work in low-paying, service-sector jobs.
How did Democratic "Watergate babies" in Congress attempt to decentralize power in Washington? -They strengthened the existing committee structure in both houses. -They passed a bill expanding the lobbying activities of former elected officials. -They reduced the number of votes needed to end a filibuster in the Senate. -They reestablished the House Un-American Activities Committee.
They reduced the number of votes needed to end a filibuster in the Senate.
What characterized the affirmative action programs instituted in the 1960s and 1970s? -They were deliberate efforts to punish white Americans for their historical privilege. -They were an unjust violation of American meritocracy. -They were rigid quota systems that replaced white workers with minorities. -They were procedures designed to account for the disadvantaged position of minorities.
They were procedures designed to account for the disadvantaged position of minorities.
Why did OPEC nations initiate an oil embargo on the United States in 1973? To raise prices and maximize their profits To help the Soviet Union appeal to Third World nations To reduce U.S. consumption and thus avoid an oil shortage To punish the United States for supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War
To punish the United States for supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War
The gains of the women's movement in the 1970s included -the ability of women to vote. -abortion rights. -the appointment of the first female Supreme Court justice. -ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
abortion rights.
The U.S. economy experienced "stagflation" in the 1970s when -consumer prices dropped suddenly. -unemployment and inflation rates rose dramatically. -the level of consumer borrowing declined suddenly. -banks lowered their interest rates unexpectedly.
unemployment and inflation rates rose dramatically.
The Supreme Court decision in Bakke v. University of California represented what? -A victory and a defeat for opponents of affirmative action -A victory for conservative opposition to affirmative action -A victory for proponents of affirmative action -A victory for women's rights activists
A victory and a defeat for opponents of affirmative action
How did President Bill Clinton's health-care task force respond to the potency of Reagan Republican attacks on big government? A. They proposed "managed competition." B. The group chose to ignore it. C. They suggested adoption of the British model. D. The task force advocated socialized medicine.
A.
In 2002, the European Union introduced a standard currency, called the A. euro. B. franc. C. dollar. D. peso.
A.
In what region were the many nations that sought admission to NATO during Bill Clinton's presidency? A. Eastern Europe B. The Middle East C. North Africa D. Scandinavia
A.
The multipolar world that has emerged since the early 1990s is characterized by what? A. Multiple major centers of power plus rising regional powers B. Domination by two superpowers around which global geopolitics is organized C. Domination of world affairs by several great powers in Europe D. Lack of major centers of power but rather multiple regional powers
A.
What was the result of President Bill Clinton's impeachment and trial in 1998 and 1999? A. Weakening both the president and members of Congress B. Giving the Republicans a big majority in the 1998 elections C. Passage of significant amounts of legislation by an empowered Congress D. New legal restrictions on presidential powers
A.
Who led Bill Clinton's health-care task force, which proposed national health-care reforms in 1993? A. First Lady Hillary Clinton B. Vice President Al Gore C. Senator Ted Kennedy D. Former Surgeon General Everett Koop
A.
Why did critics warn against the massive tax cuts of the Bush administration in 2001? A. They warned that the cuts would plunge the government into debt. B. They were government employees who feared for their paychecks. C. They thought higher taxes were necessary to keep inflation in check. D. They were Democrats who wanted high spending.
A.
Why did Iran's leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, begin talks with the United States about releasing the American hostages in 1980? A. A new war with Iraq required Iran to refocus. B. He became concerned about the welfare of the hostages after their long captivity. C. The attempted military rescue mission earlier that year had worried him. D. He had been educated in the United States and wanted cordial relations.
A. A new war with Iraq required Iran to refocus.
What did Ronald Regan's Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger, hope a U.S. military buildup would cause in the Soviet Union? A. An arms race that would strain its economy and cause domestic unrest B. A level of competition so high that it would spark a devastating nuclear accident C. Soviet leaders' recognition that they would never be able to defeat the United States D. Extreme fear that would lead the Soviet people to emigrate in massive numbers
A. An arms race that would strain its economy and cause domestic unrest
What did the religious moralists and the economic conservatives who made up the New Right in the 1970s and 1980s have in common? A. Anti-Communist attitudes B. A demand for strong government action C. A hatred of New Deal-era programs D. The desire for limited government
A. Anti-Communist attitudes
How did Lee Iacocca turn Chrysler Corporation around? A. By using a $1.5 billion federal loan to develop new cars B. By kicking out the unions C. By pushing through deregulation D. With scientific management
A. By using a $1.5 billion federal loan to develop new cars
In 1985, an intifada, or uprising, broke out in the Middle East in which Palestinians fought against which country? A. Israel B. The United States C. France D. Syria
A. Israel
The Reagan administration ordered the CIA to aid the Contras, an opposition group opposed to the democratically elected Sandinista government in which country? A. Nicaragua B. Panama C. Ecuador D. Venezuela
A. Nicaragua
What prevented the U.S. Supreme Court from overturning abortion rights, affirmative action, and the rights of criminal defendants in the 1980s and 1990s? A. Sandra Day O'Connor held the line as the crucial swing vote. B. The judicial principle of stare decisis made it impossible for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its own decisions. C. The conservative justices had a legitimate interest in protecting these individual rights. D. Reagan's attorney general, Edwin Meese, urged the Court to practice moderation.
A. Sandra Day O'Connor held the line as the crucial swing vote.
Why did Ronald Reagan actively encourage a coup against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua? A. The Sandinistas had overthrown the U.S.-backed dictator Anastasio Somoza. B. Reagan had a personal vendetta against their leader, Manuel Noriega. C. The Sandinistas had undermined Panamanian drug traffic that financed illegal CIA operations. D. The Sandinistas had violated American corporate property rights with their land reforms.
A. The Sandinistas had overthrown the U.S.-backed dictator Anastasio Somoza.
What prevented Ronald Reagan from following Richard Nixon as presidential candidate for the Republican Party in 1976? A. The Watergate scandal opened the door to Gerald Ford. B. The conservative wing of the party opposed him. C. Gerald Ford outmaneuvered him at the 1974 convention. D. Reagan was still governor of California when Nixon resigned.
A. The Watergate scandal opened the door to Gerald Ford.
Why were fundamentalist and evangelical Protestants uninterested in politics until the 1970s? A. To them, politics was an earthly concern of secondary interest. B. They supported civil rights in the 1960s. C. They agreed with the policies of presidents Kennedy and Johnson. D. The Constitution prohibited their political engagement.
A. To them, politics was an earthly concern of secondary interest.
The creation of the Natural Resources Council in 1942 reflected which trend? -A new trend toward preservationism -The new conservationist ethos of the 1940s -The growing wilderness movement of the war years -Anxiety about overpopulation
Anxiety about overpopulation
A major anti-World Trade Organization (WTO) demonstration took place in 1999 in what city? A. Denver B. Seattle C. Boise D. Sacramento
B.
Globalization advanced due to corporations' quest for new markets and their A. need for raw materials. B. search for ever-cheaper labor sources. C. effort to borrow money at lower interest rates. D. desire to improve the quality of life in the developing world.
B.
How did President Obama's judicial appointments affect the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court? A. They reversed the conservative dominance established under George W. Bush. B. They increased both the number of women justices and the Court's ethnic diversity. C. His appointments to the Court increased the number of black justices from one to three. D. He changed the composition of the Court by appointing the first Asian American and Muslim justices.
B.
In 1995, the regents of which university voted to abolish its affirmative action admissions policy? A. New York University B. The University of California C. The University of Florida D. The University of Los Angeles
B.
In the 1980s, radical Islamic fundamentalists in the Middle East built a movement based on fanatical opposition to A. Christianity and Judaism. B. Western imperialism and consumer culture. C. the increasing secularization of the United States. D. Americans' defense of Greece and Turkey against the Soviet Union.
B.
One of the signal pieces of legislation offered by the more conservative Clinton administration after 1995 eliminated A. Medicare and Medicaid. B. Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). C. the World Trade Organization (WTO). D. the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
B.
The September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States by members of Al Qaeda were organized from Osama bin Laden's bases in which country? A. Iraq B. Afghanistan C. Israel D. Pakistan
B.
What happened to the conflict over abortion rights during the 1990s? A. The debate gradually died down. B. The . became more politicized. C. The matter was settled by new Supreme Court decisions. D. Abortion was no longer a political issue.
B.
What impact did George W. Bush's presidency have on the federal deficit in the first decade of the twenty-first century? A. Bush proved that the deficit was no longer important for the American economy. B. Bush turned a budget surplus into a massive $8 trillion deficit by 2006. C. The federal deficit remained stable from Bush's inauguration through 2006. D. The deficit was eliminated by 2004, when the government recorded a large budget surplus.
B.
What made Bill Clinton's and Albert Gore's 1992 national presidential ticket historically significant? A. They were the first draft-dodgers to gain their party's nomination. B. Clinton and Gore were the first baby-boomer presidential ticket. C. Their ticket was the first to combine a Democrat and a Republican. D. Clinton and Gore had both been divorced and remarried.
B.
What organization did religious activist Randall Terry found in 1987? A. G8 B. Operation Rescue C. Global Alliance D. The Human Rights Campaign
B.
Which pair of terms describes China during the first decade of the twenty-first century? A. Democratic government and capitalist economy B. Communist government and capitalist economy C. Democratic government and Communist economy D. Communist government and economy
B.
Why did Karl Rove encourage activists to place antigay initiatives on the ballot in some states during the 2004 election season? A. He was a closeted gay man hoping to counteract rumors of his homosexuality. B. Rove hoped to draw conservative voters to the polls in key states. C. He was a fundamentalist Christian and a member of the Moral Majority. D. Rove wanted to make the defense of the family a crowning achievement for George W. Bush.
B.
Why did Muslim fundamentalists begin to target Americans in the 1990s? A. Long-standing hatred of Americans B. Anger over the U.S. presence in Saudi Arabia C. As a result of brainwashing by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini D. Fury at Americans' reckless endangerment of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan
B.
Why did conservative Republicans favor a much lower standard for Clinton's impeachment in 1998 than they had in the past? A. Republicans had always been unified against sexual indiscretion. B. They did not accept the legitimacy of Bill Clinton's presidency. C. Democrats had lowered the standards with Ronald Reagan during the Iran-Contra Affair. D. Lower standards were in line with a strict construction of the Constitution.
B.
Why did American manufacturers lose market share in the 1970s and 1980s? A. The world economy was in a tailspin at the time. B. American businesses were undercut by imports from Germany and Japan. C. Widespread anti-Americanism turned the buyers of American products away. D. The American economy had a shortage of workers.
B. American businesses were undercut by imports from Germany and Japan.
American policy toward the Soviet Union during Reagan's first term was characterized by what? A. Attempts to reach a peaceable accommodation B. An increasingly hard-line approach C. A return to the policy of détente D. Efforts to deemphasize Cold War rhetoric
B. An increasingly hard-line approach
The term "Reagan Democrats" describes voters who shared what characteristics? A. Blue-collar backgrounds, Democratic voting histories, and opposition to Reagan B. Blue-collar backgrounds and previous support for Democratic candidates C. Upper-middle-class, urban backgrounds and Democratic voting histories D. Upper-middle-class backgrounds and previous support for Democratic candidates
B. Blue-collar backgrounds and previous support for Democratic candidates
How did George H. W. Bush, who was not beloved by conservative Republicans, secure the Republican presidential nomination in 1988? A. By exposing the sexual improprieties of his challenger Pat Robertson B. By capitalizing on his fierce loyalty to Ronald Reagan C. By convincing the party's conservative wing that he could defeat Iraq's Saddam Hussein D. By invoking his own record as a dedicated Cold Warrior
B. By capitalizing on his fierce loyalty to Ronald Reagan
The Democratic ticket in the presidential election of 1984 was notable because of the selection of whom as its vice presidential candidate? A. Sandra Day O'Connor B. Geraldine Ferraro C. Lloyd Bentsen D. Walter Mondale
B. Geraldine Ferraro
What prevented President Jimmy Carter from improving relations with the Soviet Union? A. Carter pushed Moscow hard on isolating Fidel Castro in Cuba. B. He criticized the Kremlin for its human rights record. C. He insisted on a comfortable American lead in intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). D. Carter failed to understand the danger of the nuclear arms race.
B. He criticized the Kremlin for its human rights record.
Why did financier Ivan Boesky go to prison in the 1980s? A. His company defrauded an airline company. B. He profited from insider trading. C. His company sold weapons to Iran. D. He was convicted of espionage.
B. He profited from insider trading.
Why did the United States support a faction fighting in Afghanistan beginning in 1980? A. It was fighting against terrorists. B. It was fighting Soviet troops in that country. C. It was attacking America's archenemy, Iran. D. The CIA wanted it to destabilize Pakistan.
B. It was fighting Soviet troops in that country.
Why did the national debt grow during the Reagan administration? A. Inflation B. Military spending C. The rising cost of Medicare D. Excessively high taxes
B. Military spending
Which statement describes Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, who was implicated in the Iran-Contra scandal? A. He served ten years in prison for his Iran-Contra crimes. B. North became a hero to American conservatives. C. North fled to Cuba to escape criminal charges in the United States. D. He avoided conviction.
B. North became a hero to American conservatives.
What organization served as the organizational vehicle for transforming the Fourth Great Awakening into the religious political movement that supported Ronald Reagan's candidacy in 1980? A. The Family Research Council B. The Moral Majority C. The Heritage Foundation D. The Eagle Forum
B. The Moral Majority
Why did Cold War hardliners in the U.S. Congress feel empowered on the eve of Ronald Reagan's election? A. North Korea's development of nuclear weapons demonstrated the failures of liberal foreign policy. B. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan called for a tougher line. C. They were certain of his election victory. D. The United States had successfully rescued the Iranian hostages in a military operation.
B. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan called for a tougher line.
Why did supply-siders believe that they could balance budgets with tax cuts? A. Tax cuts, they believed, would increase exports. B. They believed that cutting taxes would stimulate economic growth, increasing future tax revenues. C. Lower taxes would force governments to spend less. D. They expected to pair the tax cuts with cuts in defense spending.
B. They believed that cutting taxes would stimulate economic growth, increasing future tax revenues.
Ronald Reagan rendered federal regulatory agencies less effective during his presidency by A. defunding them completely. B. staffing them with leaders hostile to the agency's mission. C. refusing to appoint new administrators. D. urging their employees to inform on their superiors.
B. staffing them with leaders hostile to the agency's mission.
Ronald Reagan believed that the federal government was A. too lax in its enforcement of affirmative action. B. too large and too intrusive in the private lives of Americans. C. the source of economic recovery. D. essential to solving the nation's social problems.
B. too large and too intrusive in the private lives of Americans.
How did the issue of the Iraq War contribute to the outcome of the 2004 elections? A. It allowed John Kerry to win the popular vote, although he lost in the electoral college. B. The war caused the Republicans to lose their majority in Congress. C. The war spurred the highest voter turnout since the 1968 election. D. It decreased Bush's margin of victory from that of the 2000 election.
C.
What aspect of the Bush v. Gore (2000) U.S. Supreme Court decision indicated its partisanship? A. Bush's victory in the Court's decision B. The fact that the decision was 8 to 1 C. The Court's declaration that the case could not be used as precedent D. Justice John Paul Stevens' dissent
C.
What did Patrick Buchanan mean when he talked about "a culture war" in the 1980s? A. A confrontation between Christianity and Islam B. The struggle over the public funding of the arts and humanities C. A struggle between liberalism and Christian morality D. A long-standing debate over the difference between high and lowbrow culture
C.
What was the U.S. Congress hoping to achieve when it passed the USA PATRIOT Act in 2001? A. New civil liberties protections for American-born Muslims B. Increased revenue to fund the war on terrorism domestically and internationally C. The suspension of certain civil liberties protections in the interests of national security D.New civil liberties protections for American citizens
C.
What was the first state to have a "majority-minority" population? A. New York B. Texas C. California D. Florida
C.
Which factor has been most important for the global integration of the world's economies? A. Russia developed a market economy. B. American unions lost power and prestige. C. Global financial markets became integrated. D. The United States lifted a number of trade embargoes.
C.
Who was Barack Obama's Republican challenger in the 2008 presidential election? A. George H. W. Bush B. John Kerry C. John McCain D. David Souter
C.
Why did 50,000 protesters gather at the annual meeting of the World Trade Organization in Seattle in 1999? A. Protesters were demanding better pay in American service industries. B. Demonstrators were protesting the import of cheap Chinese goods into the United States. C. They were protesting unequal distribution of costs and benefits of globalization. D. They were protesting for more manufacturing jobs in the United States.
C.
Why did journalists on cable news networks like CNN and Fox News increasingly abandon their responsibilities as conveyors of information to take on the role of entertainers and provocateurs in the 1990s? A. By the 1990s, journalism has lost its significance in the political process. B. Americans were sufficiently informed through radio and newspaper media. C. The networks recognized that nothing drew in viewers like aggressive partisanship. D. The demand for more partisan reporting came from the networks' stockholders.
C.
Why did the antiabortion movement become increasingly confrontational and politically powerful in the 1980s? A. Illegal abortions were dramatically on the rise. B. Women were becoming demonstrably more callous with legal abortions. C. Fundamentalist Protestants had assumed leadership of the movement. D. The movement was taken over by labor unions.
C.
Which phrase did President Ronald Reagan use to refer to the Soviet Union during his first term in office? A. "The atheist realm" B. "A country like ours" C. "An evil empire" D. "A den of iniquity"
C. "An evil empire"
When Ronald Reagan gave his first official speech as the Republican presidential nominee in Philadelphia, Mississippi, his ringing endorsement of "states' rights" was intended to send what message to white southerners? A. His wish that his Republican predecessors had never abolished slavery B. His recognition of the sacrifices that civil rights activists had made in that town C. Conservative Republicans' opposition to federal civil rights legislation D. The New Right's intention to restore Jim Crow segregation in the region
C. Conservative Republicans' opposition to federal civil rights legislation
Which issues did newly formed conservative think tanks such as the Cato Institute and the American Enterprise Institute work to advance? A. Expanded social welfare policies B. Environmentalism C. Free-market economics D. Affirmative action
C. Free-market economics
How did the Supreme Court change under Reagan's administration? A. Reversing Roe v. Wade B. Becoming more liberal C. Growing more conservative D. Becoming more active in the protection of civil rights
C. Growing more conservative
What made Republican Barry Goldwater so popular with his conservative base? A. He readily attacked gays and lesbians. B. He called for a return to religious government. C. He suggested that containment was cowardice. D. He called the Constitution a Communist manifesto.
C. He suggested that containment was cowardice.
Why did Ronald Reagan turn away from the New Deal Democratic Party in the early 1960s? A. Bitterness over losing his leadership of the Screen Actors Guild in 1947 B. Due to a personal falling out with President Franklin Roosevelt C. His dislike for higher taxes and his anticommunism D. To cover up his own Communist affiliations
C. His dislike for higher taxes and his anticommunism
Reaganomics was based on which belief? A. Social service spending would lead to increased tax revenues. B. An increased national debt would increase employment. C. Tax cuts would, in the end, increase tax revenues. D. Increased spending would cut inflation.
C. Tax cuts would, in the end, increase tax revenues.
How did the conservatives of the Cold War era differ from the traditional conservatives from the early twentieth century? A. They favored corporate regulation. B. They supported civil rights. C. They rejected isolationism. D. They embraced big government.
C. They rejected isolationism.
A notable aspect of the 1984 presidential election was A. that Republicans captured control of the House of Representatives. B. President Reagan's narrow defeat of Walter Mondale. C. the selection of Geraldine Ferraro as the Democratic vice presidential candidate. D. how third party-candidates affected the election outcomes.
C. the selection of Geraldine Ferraro as the Democratic vice presidential candidate.
The diversion of profits from arms sales to Iran to assist the Nicaraguan Contras A. resulted in Ronald Reagan's impeachment. B. was the brainchild of Ronald Reagan. C. was never connected to Ronald Reagan. D. resulted in Ronald Reagan's failure to be reelected.
C. was never connected to Ronald Reagan.
During the 1990s, the people of the state of California expressed their anxieties over multiculturalism by A. adopting new regulations to ensure equal access of minorities to government contracts. B. strengthening its affirmative action laws in the wake of the Los Angeles riots. C. petitioning the federal government to reject affirmative action. D. passing a series of laws and regulations ending affirmative action.
D.
How did George W. Bush justify his desire to invade Iraq in 2003? A. He said the invasion was necessary to protect the Iraqis from Saddam Hussein's tyranny. B. Bush argued that Saddam Hussein had been responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. C. He suggested that only an American invasion could contain Islamic fundamentalism. D. He argued that it would be a preventative war against a "grave and gathering danger."
D.
How did the Clinton administration address the growing Al Qaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan? A. Ordering the CIA to assassinate Osama bin Laden B. Deploying ground troops to the region C. Ignoring it D. Ordering air strikes on their bases
D.
In 1998, Congress enacted the Defense of Marriage Act, which had what effect? A. Offering states grants for marriage counseling programs B. Providing states with funding for maternity and paternity leave programs C. Banning divorce except in cases of adultery D. Allowing states to refuse to recognize gay marriages or civil unions
D.
What law passed during the Obama administration fulfilled a long-standing goal of Democrats? A. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act B. The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act C. The Automobile Industry Recovery Act D. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
D.
What made the Supreme Court's ruling in the 2003 case Lawrence v. Texas a landmark decision? A. The Court made it impossible for the states to enact legislation limiting gun sales. B. The decision effectively ended the practice of affirmative action throughout the nation. C. The Court overturned its 1973 ruling in the Roe v. Wade case. D. The ruling limited states' power to prohibit private homosexual activity between consenting adults.
D.
What success did the antiabortion movement achieve during the 1980s and 1990s? A. Supreme Court appointments that guaranteed the overturning of Roe v. Wade B. State laws prohibiting abortions for married women C. A federal law requiring parental notification before minors could obtain abortions D. State laws limiting public funding for abortions
D.
What was the original purpose of the Internet, which was developed during the late 1960s? A. To boost consumer spending by making it easier for people to shop and purchase things B. To provide better communication among people worldwide C. To make it easier for academics and scientists to share research with their colleagues D. To serve as a way to preserve military communications in case of a Soviet attack
D.
Which presidential election joined those of 1876 and 1960 as the closest and most contested in American history? A. 2004 B. 1992 C. 1996 D. 2000
D.
Why did Bill Clinton have to worry in the wake of his 1992 election? A. He was facing overwhelming Republican majorities in Congress. B. His victory was the closest presidential election since 1877. C. He was already under investigation for the Monica Lewinsky scandal. D. His victory was based on the smallest share of the vote since Nixon.
D.
Why did conservatives oppose affirmative action in the 1990s and later? A. They feared that it disadvantaged women. B. They argued that this might eventually lead to black majority rule in the South. C. Conservatives pointed to the mounting evidence of the victimization of white men. D. Conservatives argued that it promoted "reverse discrimination."
D.
Why did profits of the American financial industry rise from less than 10 percent of total national business profits in the 1950s to more than 40 percent in the 1990s? A. Computers and communications technology B. China's demand for capital C. The growing housing market D. Financial deregulation
D.
Why did the United States, Canada, and Mexico sign the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993? A. They wanted to avert the growing economic dominance of China. B. They sought to protect North American capitalism from Communist influence. C. Canada and the United States hoped to bring an end to poverty in Mexico. D. They hoped to offset the economic power of the European bloc.
D.
Why did the World Wide Web prove instantly democratic when it became widely available in the 1990s? A. Online businesses tend to have flatter hierarchies. B. People worldwide enjoyed universally free and easy access to computers. C. Governments around the world granted full freedom of speech online. D. It provided ordinary people with easy access to knowledge.
D.
Why did the former Communist nation of Yugoslavia, in the Balkans region of Europe, break into several different states? A. NATO's effort to draw new borders B. Disagreements over whether to adopt capitalist economies C. Return to traditional nation-states D. Ethnic differences
D.
What was the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services in 1989? A. Overturning Roe v. Wade B. Allowing states to ban abortions C. Requiring parental consent for minors to receive abortions D. Allowing states to regulate abortions
D. Allowing states to regulate abortions
How did Arizona Republican Senator Barry Goldwater build grassroots support for his brand of conservative politics in the 1960s? A. He used lengthy Senate filibusters to make his arguments familiar to the American public. B. He conducted an old-fashioned whistle-stop campaign across the country. C. He debated Eisenhower several times on national television. D. He published books that laid out his views and goals.
D. He published books that laid out his views and goals.
Who provided a new challenge to conventional party politics in 1988? A. Richard Nixon B. Ronald Reagan C. George H. W. Bush D. Jesse Jackson
D. Jesse Jackson
During his first term in office, Reagan did which of the following? A. Began to expand the liberal state B. Increased government oversight of industry C. Decreased defense spending D. Lowered federal taxes
D. Lowered federal taxes
Which development was an important factor in President Carter's sinking popularity in 1980? A. The Watergate scandal B. Deregulation of the airline industry C. The Camp David Accords D. The Iranian hostage crisis
D. The Iranian hostage crisis
What part of the Republican Party's 1980 platform reflected the influence of the Moral Majority? A. The call for an end to court-mandated busing for racial integration in the schools B. The demand for mandatory conversion therapy for American gays and lesbians C. The offer of free television broadcast rights for evangelical churches D. The call for a constitutional ban on abortion and voluntary prayer in public schools
D. The call for a constitutional ban on abortion and voluntary prayer in public schools
How did the computer industry change in the 1970s and 1980s? A. The spread of Internet use B. The rapid expansion of social media sites C. The rise of Internet shopping D. The introduction and spread of personal computers
D. The introduction and spread of personal computers
The Persian Gulf War was fought in 1991 by A. American forces acting alone. B. the United States and the new Russian Republic. C. a combined NATO force. D. a coalition of nations led by the United States.
D. a coalition of nations led by the United States.
While the Cold War world was divided between the rival communist and capitalist blocs, it was clear by the 1990s that the post-Cold War world would be A. unified and peaceful. B. dominated by the United States. C. divided between Christians and Muslims. D. multipolar.
D. multipolar.
Which pair of men masterminded the 1972 break-in at the Democratic Party's national headquarters in the Watergate complex? -Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward -John Mitchell and John Dean -Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew -G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt
G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt
What happened to Richard Nixon when it became clear that he had been involved in the illegal cover-up of Watergate and that he would be convicted by the Senate? -He was impeached by the House of Representatives. -He committed suicide. -He went to jail. -He resigned from office.
He resigned from office.
Which statement describes the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act? -It focused on the protection of endangered species. -It barely gained passage on partisan votes. -Congress passed the act over Nixon's veto. -It required developers to file environmental impact statements.
It required developers to file environmental impact statements.
Which statement characterizes the historical development of OPEC? -The organization was founded in 1970 by the Persian Gulf states. -OPEC banned foreign oil companies from operating in their territory. -OPEC was ineffective until the mid-1970s when Arab states issued an oil embargo. -OPEC was a cartel operated by Soviet bloc nations.
OPEC was ineffective until the mid-1970s when Arab states issued an oil embargo.
Which book was a major work on women's health published in the 1970s? -Our Bodies, Ourselves -STOP ERA -Silent Spring -The Feminine Mystique
Our Bodies, Ourselves
Why were feminists hopeful in the 1960s that the Supreme Court might legalize abortion? -The Court had already made decisions that opened the door to the possibility. -Congress had passed a law legalizing abortion. -Every state legislature had legalized abortion, indicating a consensus. -The female justices on the Court were likely to support abortion rights.
The Court had already made decisions that opened the door to the possibility.
Why did conservatives, Catholics, and fundamentalist Christians object to the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade? -They believed that abortion involved the immoral taking of an innocent human life. -They argued that abortion should be permitted after the first trimester of pregnancy. -They objected to feminist goals. -They believed that individual women, not the government, should control their bodies.
They believed that abortion involved the immoral taking of an innocent human life.
Why were conservative Republicans critical of Richard Nixon during his presidency? -They knew he was engaged in illegal activities. -They thought that he was too conciliatory toward -China and the Soviet Union. -They regretted Nixon's decision to avoid nuclear weapons in Vietnam. -They blamed Nixon for deindustrialization.
They thought that he was too conciliatory toward China and the Soviet Union.