Question 1

One major factor working in Reagan's favor in his 1984 reelection bid was:

Accepted Answer

A)  a robustly growing economy 
B)  the collapse of the Soviet Union 
C)  that the Democrats were deeply divided 
D)  surpluses in the federal budget 
E)  the support he received from minorities and organized labor 
A)  a robustly growing economy 
B)  the collapse of the Soviet Union 
C)  that the Democrats were deeply divided 
D)  surpluses in the federal budget 
E)  the support he received from minorities and organized labor A

Question 2

What were the main foreign policy achievements of the Carter administration? Where did Carter fail?

Accepted Answer

The main foreign policy achievements of the Carter administration include the Camp David Accords, which led to a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and the signing of the SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union, which aimed to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

However, the Carter administration also faced significant challenges and failures in its foreign policy. One of the most notable failures was the Iranian hostage crisis, in which 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days after the US embassy in Tehran was seized by Iranian militants. The administration's inability to secure the release of the hostages damaged Carter's reputation and contributed to his loss in the 1980 presidential election.

Additionally, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and the subsequent US response, including a boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, were seen as ineffective in deterring Soviet aggression and were criticized as a failure of Carter's foreign policy.

Overall, while the Carter administration had some notable foreign policy achievements, it was also marked by significant challenges and failures that ultimately impacted its legacy.

Question 3

Trace the Iran-Contra affair from its earliest existence to its conclusion. Did this incident hurt or help the Reagan administration's reputation?

Accepted Answer

The Iran-Contra affair was a political scandal that occurred during the second term of the Reagan administration in the 1980s. It involved two separate covert operations that were carried out by the United States government.

The earliest existence of the Iran-Contra affair can be traced back to 1985 when the Reagan administration secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran, which was under an arms embargo at the time. The purpose of this arms sale was to secure the release of American hostages held in Lebanon by Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants. The proceeds from these arms sales were then funneled to the Contras, a rebel group in Nicaragua, in violation of U.S. law which prohibited funding for the Contras.

The scandal came to light in November 1986 when a Lebanese newspaper reported on the arms sales to Iran. This revelation led to a series of investigations and hearings, including the Tower Commission and the joint congressional hearings, which exposed the extent of the administration's involvement in the affair.

The Iran-Contra affair ultimately hurt the Reagan administration's reputation. It raised serious questions about the administration's adherence to the rule of law and its commitment to ethical conduct. The scandal also damaged the credibility of the Reagan administration and tarnished its image as a champion of democracy and human rights. Several high-ranking officials in the administration were indicted and convicted for their roles in the affair, further damaging the administration's reputation.

In conclusion, the Iran-Contra affair was a significant blemish on the Reagan administration's legacy. It revealed a pattern of deception and disregard for the law within the highest levels of government, and ultimately undermined the administration's reputation.

Question 4

Bush helped secure his victory in 1988 by:

Accepted Answer

A)  portraying the Democrat, Dukakis, as a liberal 
B)  saying how much he would change Reagan's policies 
C)  promising to be flexible on tax policy 
D)  carrying most regions except for the South 
E)  promising to get tough on the Russians 
A)  portraying the Democrat, Dukakis, as a liberal 
B)  saying how much he would change Reagan's policies 
C)  promising to be flexible on tax policy 
D)  carrying most regions except for the South 
E)  promising to get tough on the Russians

Question 5

The sunbelt includes the southern and western states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Ronald Reagan viewed the Soviet Union as:

Accepted Answer

A)  a close and trusted ally 
B)  militarily weak 
C)  a source of global stability 
D)  an evil empire 
E)  capable of becoming more democratic while remaining Communist 
A)  a close and trusted ally 
B)  militarily weak 
C)  a source of global stability 
D)  an evil empire 
E)  capable of becoming more democratic while remaining Communist

Question 7

The Strategic Defense Initiative was also known as "Star Wars."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Describe and illustrate the main features of Reaganomics.

Accepted Answer

Reaganomics, also known as supply-side e

Question 9

The Panamanian government of Manuel Noriega was at odds with the Bush administration because of its:

Accepted Answer

A)  communist leanings 
B)  threat to shut down the Panama Canal 
C)  aggressive actions toward its Central American neighbors 
D)  involvement in the drug trade 
E)  boycott of banana shipments to the United States 
A)  communist leanings 
B)  threat to shut down the Panama Canal 
C)  aggressive actions toward its Central American neighbors 
D)  involvement in the drug trade 
E)  boycott of banana shipments to the United States

Question 10

Ronald Reagan made AIDS research a top priority of his administration.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Bush's goal as president seemed to be to:

Accepted Answer

A)  pursue his own ambitious legislative agenda 
B)  wipe out the Democratic opposition 
C)  consolidate Reagan's policies and achievements 
D)  be a Kennedy-like inspirational leader 
E)  establish a dynasty of Bushes in the White House 
A)  pursue his own ambitious legislative agenda 
B)  wipe out the Democratic opposition 
C)  consolidate Reagan's policies and achievements 
D)  be a Kennedy-like inspirational leader 
E)  establish a dynasty of Bushes in the White House

Question 12

What was America's role in world affairs during the Reagan and Bush years?

Accepted Answer

During the Reagan and Bush years, Americ

Question 13

The anti-feminist women led by Phyllis Schlafly:

Accepted Answer

A)  helped keep the equal-rights amendment from being ratified 
B)  succeeded in keeping abortion illegal 
C)  believed Ronald Reagan was too liberal 
D)  believed in total separation of politics and religion 
E)  voted about equally for Democrats and Republicans 
A)  helped keep the equal-rights amendment from being ratified 
B)  succeeded in keeping abortion illegal 
C)  believed Ronald Reagan was too liberal 
D)  believed in total separation of politics and religion 
E)  voted about equally for Democrats and Republicans

Question 14

By the early 1980s, Lebanon:

Accepted Answer

A)  had become a model of Middle East stability and democracy 
B)  expelled Palestinian radicals and recognized Israel 
C)  became an anarchic battleground for warring factions 
D)  cut off oil sales to the United States to protest Reagan's pro-Israel policies 
E)  was regularly sending troops into northern Israel 
A)  had become a model of Middle East stability and democracy 
B)  expelled Palestinian radicals and recognized Israel 
C)  became an anarchic battleground for warring factions 
D)  cut off oil sales to the United States to protest Reagan's pro-Israel policies 
E)  was regularly sending troops into northern Israel

Question 15

The biggest domestic problem facing the Bush administration was the national debt.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The religious right was a Protestant-dominated movement in which Catholics were not allowed to participate.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Bush ultimately dealt with Noriega by:

Accepted Answer

A)  cutting off foreign aid to Panama 
B)  funding his political opposition 
C)  ordering a military invasion to arrest him 
D)  having Panama expelled from the United Nations 
E)  persuading him to change his policies 
A)  cutting off foreign aid to Panama 
B)  funding his political opposition 
C)  ordering a military invasion to arrest him 
D)  having Panama expelled from the United Nations 
E)  persuading him to change his policies

Question 18

Opposing Iraq in the Gulf War was:

Accepted Answer

A)  a coalition of over thirty nations 
B)  the United States and Britain alone 
C)  an army comprised of Arab soldiers 
D)  China and the Soviet Union 
E)  Israel and India 
A)  a coalition of over thirty nations 
B)  the United States and Britain alone 
C)  an army comprised of Arab soldiers 
D)  China and the Soviet Union 
E)  Israel and India

Question 19

In late 1989, all the Communist regimes of Eastern Europe toppled bloodlessly EXCEPT that of:

Accepted Answer

A)  East Germany 
B)  Poland 
C)  Hungary 
D)  Czechoslovakia 
E)  Romania 
A)  East Germany 
B)  Poland 
C)  Hungary 
D)  Czechoslovakia 
E)  Romania

Question 20

Revelations of the Iran-Contra affair indicated that Reagan had violated his pledge to never:

Accepted Answer

A)  raise taxes 
B)  work with Communists 
C)  lie to the American people 
D)  negotiate with terrorists 
E)  needlessly send troops into battle 
A)  raise taxes 
B)  work with Communists 
C)  lie to the American people 
D)  negotiate with terrorists 
E)  needlessly send troops into battle

Exam 33: A Conservative Realignment: 19771990

One major factor working in Reagan's favor in his 1984 reelection bid was:

What were the main foreign policy achievements of the Carter administration? Where did Carter fail?

Trace the Iran-Contra affair from its earliest existence to its conclusion. Did this incident hurt or help the Reagan administration's reputation?

Bush helped secure his victory in 1988 by:

The sunbelt includes the southern and western states.

Ronald Reagan viewed the Soviet Union as:

The Strategic Defense Initiative was also known as "Star Wars."

Describe and illustrate the main features of Reaganomics.

The Panamanian government of Manuel Noriega was at odds with the Bush administration because of its:

Ronald Reagan made AIDS research a top priority of his administration.

Bush's goal as president seemed to be to:

What was America's role in world affairs during the Reagan and Bush years?

The anti-feminist women led by Phyllis Schlafly:

By the early 1980s, Lebanon:

The biggest domestic problem facing the Bush administration was the national debt.

The religious right was a Protestant-dominated movement in which Catholics were not allowed to participate.

Bush ultimately dealt with Noriega by:

Opposing Iraq in the Gulf War was:

In late 1989, all the Communist regimes of Eastern Europe toppled bloodlessly EXCEPT that of:

Revelations of the Iran-Contra affair indicated that Reagan had violated his pledge to never:

The Collision of Cultures

Britain and Its Colonies

Colonial Ways of Life

From Colonies to States

The American Revolution

Shaping a Federal Union

The Federalist Era

The Early Republic

The Dynamics of Growth

Nationalism and Sectionalism

The Jacksonian ERA

The Old South

Religion, Romanticism, and Reform

An Empire in the West

The Gathering Storm

The War of the Union

Reconstruction: North and South

Big Business and Organized Labor

The South and the West Transformed

The Emergence of Urban America

Gilded Age Politics and Agrarian Revolt

Seizing an American Empire

Making the World Over: the Progressive ERA

America and the Great War

The Modern Temper

Republican Resurgence and Decline

New Deal America

The Second World War

The Fair Deal and Containment

The 1950s: Affluence and Anxiety in an Atomic Age

New Frontiers: Politics and Social Change in the 1960s

Rebellion and Reaction: the 1960s and 1970s

America in a New Millennium

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