Deck 27: Reagans America

Question 1

All of the following are true statements about Reagan's economic programs EXCEPT:

A)he made significant cuts in social programs like welfare, food stamps, and unemployment compensation. b. he dramatically increased defense spending.
B)Incorrect. Reagan's cuts initially produced an economic recession; the supposed trickle-down of wealth did not trickle down and the cuts to welfare programs limited the amount of consumer dollars entering the market. See 27-1: Reagan's Domestic Politics
C)his trickle-down theory ultimately proved to be a vital strategy for dealing with economic downturns.
D)his policies increased the number of billionaires in America.
E)he cut taxes by 25 percent within three years.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Gorbachev sought to rectify the Soviet Union's financial problems by fueling the nuclear buildup.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Bush promised the American people that he would not raise taxes, and he honored his word.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true of the division of wealth during Reagan's term in office?

A)Reagan's policies were primarily aimed at uplifting the impoverished.
B)Regan's business policies put a check on the profits amassed by industrialists.
C)The economy grew because of the high tax rates.
D)Welfare programs introduced by Reagan taxed the rich but benefited the poor.
E)The middle class began to capture a progressively smaller percentage of the nation's wealth.

Question 5

The Soviet Union won the Cold War after a fifty-year struggle with the United States.

Question 6

Reagan discarded the central themes of the conservative movement.

Question 7

Reagan won an easy reelection in 1984 because:

A)Americans liked his strong anti-communist stance.
B)Walter Mondale chose an African American as his running mate.
C)he was instrumental in ending the Cold War.
D)the economy had temporarily improved.
E)of his promise to reduce military spending.

Question 8

Which of the following was an unseen consequence of the supply-side economics of the 1980s?

A)An unprecedented increase in the number of immigrants
B)The movement of large corporations from the North to the South
C)A great shift in wealth to the top of the economic pyramid
D)Nationwide protests and strikes against the rise of capitalism
E)Reagan's landslide defeat in the reelections in 1984

Question 9

Reagan named James Dobson, a Nixon appointee, as chief justice.

Question 10

Several issues plagued President Carter in his bid for reelection, including all of the following EXCEPT:

A)his moralistic quests for American austerity.
B)the stagnating economy.
C)Reagan's charismatic personality.
D)the Iranian hostage crisis.
E)the failure of the Vietnam War.

Question 11

The government's response to the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s dramatically displayed the nation's continued homophobia.

Question 12

Reagan's initiative of deregulating several industries led to:

A)an increase in investment by entrepreneurs.
B)a mammoth scandal in the coming years.
C)the much needed stabilization in the economy.
D)an indirect upliftment of the impoverished sections of society.
E)the growth of a great trade deficit.

Question 13

Lebanon had been torn apart since 1975 by a civil war between two political parties.

Question 14

Reagan's policies had produced the largest peacetime budget deficit in American history.

Question 15

Reagan's policies benefited the poor tremendously as their wages and standard of living improved.

Question 16

Which of the following was a reason for the South's shift in political allegiance from Democratic to Republican?

A)The civil rights movement
B)Reagan's extravagant military spending
C)World War II
D)John F. Kennedy's assassination
E)The Vietnam War

Question 17

Reagan's huge investment in defense coupled with his initiative to cut taxes led to:

A)an exponential increase in the country's export performance.
B)a fair distribution of wealth among the population.
C)rapid and unchecked nuclear proliferation.
D)an economic decline and a drop in employment.
E)a dramatic rise in the national debt.

Question 18

Reagan's supply-side economics involved:

A)increasing military spending by over fifty percent.
B)cutting taxes to generate investments in the economy.
C)trimming Social Security and Medicare.
D)increasing federal revenue.
E)increasing protective tariffs.

Question 19

The United States supported Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in his fight against Iran's militant Islamist Republic.

Question 20

The temporary improvement in the American economy during Reagan's early tenure was mainly the result of _____.

A)a massive increase in defense spending
B)tax cuts
C)the success of supply-side economics
D)a decrease in the national debt
E)Republican control of the Senate

Question 21

Beginning in the 1980s, inner-city youth fully embraced a new style of music called _____.

A)rock and roll
B)hip hop
C)jazz
D)ragtime
E)blues

Question 22

Which American policy was partly responsible for the rise of Japan as an economic power?

A)The policy to build up a major East Asian ally after China became a communist country
B)The policy to import only from Japan
C)The policy to deregulate big industries with operations on the Asian continent
D)The policy to sell nuclear weapons to Japan
E)The policy to expand businesses in offshore locations

Question 23

Which of the following led to an inevitable recession in the 1990s?

A)The fierce competition among large companies
B)The huge national debt
C)The increase in taxes
D)The cuts in defense spending
E)A growing trade deficit with Japan

Question 24

Which of the following was a reason for Bush's failure to establish himself as a successful leader?

A)His inclination toward communism aroused suspicion.
B)He did not take measures to decrease the national debt.
C)He opposed Reagan's policies.
D)He failed to undo the damage done by Reagan's policies.
E)He fueled the war in Vietnam.

Question 25

The economic rise of _____ in the 1980s led many Americans to wonder if their nation's days as a superpower were numbered.

A)the Soviet Union
B)China
C)Germany
D)Japan
E)the United Kingdom

Question 26

Who turned the term liberal into a derogatory term that implied a connection between Democratic policies and social disorder?

A)Michael Dukakis
B)Clarence Thomas
C)Ronald Reagan
D)Pat Robertson
E)George H. W. Bush

Question 27

The United States' most complex international relations during the 1980s involved _____.

A)the Soviet Union
B)China
C)the Middle East
D)Vietnam
E)Japan

Question 28

Between 1981 and 1988, more than 57,000 cases of AIDS were diagnosed in the United States, yet politicians were slow to respond to the epidemic because:

A)it was still considered too low a figure to qualify as a true epidemic.
B)government research funds were very limited.
C)leaders, including President Reagan, dismissed it as a gay disease.
D)it was difficult to diagnose and treat.
E)of all of the above reasons.

Question 29

The first independent labor union in a communist-controlled country was formed after a series of strikes by shipyard workers in _____.

A)Hungary
B)Bulgaria
C)Romania
D)Poland
E)Czechoslovakia

Question 30

All of the following are true statements about the savings and loan (S&L)crisis EXCEPT:

A)it was caused because people invested in risky ventures, such as shady real estate deals.
B)it led to layoffs, companies burdened with huge debt, and overly consolidated industries.
C)millions of Americans lost their savings.
D)the biggest failure was investing in large companies that used the money to buy up weaker competitors.
E)Bush created a plan to resolve the crisis-at a taxpayer cost of $500 million.

Question 31

In the 1980s, the African Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Latinos who had moved to northern cities after World War II were hurt by:

A)the change in the political allegiance of the South.
B)the departure of large manufacturers from the North.
C)Reagan's enforcement of Christian principles in the North.
D)increasing drug problems and violence in the area.
E)strict restrictions imposed on immigrants in these cities.

Question 32

Which drug appeared in the mid-1980s and quickly took hold of inner-city youth?

A)Cannabis
B)Heroin
C)Opium
D)Crack
E)Ecstasy

Question 33

Which of the following practices would NOT have been opposed by the members of the New Right?

A)A woman's right to have an abortion
B)The general permissiveness of American secular society
C)The teaching of evolutionary theory in schools
D)The non-acceptance of homosexuals in society
E)Sex education in schools

Question 34

One of George H. W. Bush's most effective campaign strategies in the 1988 election was to portray his opponent, Michael Dukakis, as _____.

A)being soft on crime
B)inexperienced
C)non-conservative
D)a supporter of communism
E)too aggressive

Question 35

Nancy Reagan, the First Lady, spearheaded the "Just Say No" campaign against _____.

A)gang violence
B)drug problems
C)gun violence
D)teen pregnancy
E)domestic violence

Question 36

The presence of troops from Soviet-friendly _____ so close to Israel prompted the United States to send peacekeeping forces to Lebanon in 1982.

A)Iran
B)Kuwait
C)Iraq
D)Egypt
E)Syria

Question 37

The term perestroika best explains:

A)Gorbachev's eagerness to restructure the Soviet economy.
B)the Soviet-controlled nations' struggle for independence.
C)the agreement between Reagan and Gorbachev to eliminate nuclear missiles.
D)the Soviet Union's imminent defeat in the Cold War.
E)Gorbachev's initiative to import Western goods.

Question 38

A _____ is an inequality in trade that occurs when a country imports more from another country than it exports to the other country.

A)trade surplus
B)trade embargo
C)trade deficit
D)balance of trade
E)trade war

Question 39

The Strategic Defense Initiative, or "Star Wars," violated the _____.

A)Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty
B)Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
C)North American Free Trade Agreement
D)Nixon Doctrine
E)Versailles Treaty

Question 40

Which of the following did George Bush do to upset Americans, costing him his bid for reelection in 1992?

A)He campaigned as a loyal follower of Ronald Reagan, but once in office, he began to dismantle many of his predecessor's programs.
B)He invaded Iraq and rescued Kuwait from Saddam Hussein, but he failed to remove the dictator from power.
C)He pushed his son into politics, creating what many feared would become a national political dynasty.
D)He vocally chastised Reagan for the savings and loan disaster.
E)He promised the American people that he would not raise taxes but later reneged on his word.

Question 41

Elaborate on the American trade deficit with Japan.

Question 42

Which of the following is a difference between Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims?

A)Shias are the rightful heirs of the Prophet Mohammed, whereas Sunnis are not.
B)Shias are based in Iran, while Sunnis are based in Iraq.
C)Sunnis believe in the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed, but Shias denounce it.
D)Shias comprise a vast majority of the world's Muslims, whereas Sunnis are a minority.
E)Sunnis strictly follow the teachings of Mohammad, while Shias see their leaders as reflections of God on earth.

Question 43

The contras were:

A)a terrorist organization in Iran.
B)a right-wing guerilla group in Nicaragua.
C)the peacekeeping forces sent by the United States to Lebanon.
D)Saddam Hussein's personal advisors.
E)the members of the first independent labor union in Poland.

Question 44

The use of force by the Chinese government to end the prodemocracy rallies at Tiananmen Square:

A)adversely affected China's relations with the Middle East.
B)strained U.S.-China relations.
C)demonstrated that the Chinese were willing to liberalize some of their political policies.
D)disenchanted and dismayed Chinese Communist Party members.
E)soured China's relations with the Soviet Union.

Question 45

Which of the following was NOT true of the Persian Gulf War?

A)It began when Saddam Hussein attempted to reestablish Iraq's control over the Middle East.
B)Saddam Hussein took over the oil-rich country of Kuwait, which led to the United States joining the war.
C)The U.S. intercepted bombs heading from Iraq, which were meant to target Israel during the war.
D)It was a very brief war that lasted just a few days.
E)It was the first televised war.

Question 46

The relatively new development of _____ helped cover the Persian Gulf War.

A)​ the Internet
B)​ the transponder
C)​ aviation communication
D)​ satellite television
E)​ drone surveillance

Question 47

_________ was first detected in the United States in 1981, and by 1988 more than 57,000 cases had been diagnosed.
A. Smallpox
B. Yellow Fever
C. AIDS
D. Cholera

Question 48

Discuss Bush's stand on taxation and other economic policies.

Question 49

Why did the United States support Iraq in its fight against Iran?

A)It wanted to secure its oil supplies.
B)It believed in Saddam Hussein's foreign policies.
C)It wanted to oppose Iran's militant Islamic republic.
D)It wanted to fulfil its role as the world's arsenal.
E)It was supporting world peace.

Question 50

_________, Walter Mondale's running mate, was the first woman to run on a major party's presidential ticket.
A. Sandra Day O'Connor
B. Geraldine Ferraro
C. Patricia A. Salargo
D. Shirley Chisholm

Question 51

Which of the following nations urged the United States to sell weapons to Iran despite an embargo against it?

A)Yemen
B)Qatar
C)Kuwait
D)Lebanon
E)Israel

Question 52

Chinwe, an African boy, lives with other immigrant members of his tribe in a remote Asian country. The government of that country has recently levied strict rules against African immigrants that would force Chinwe and his tribe to look for refuge in another country. This initiative by the government is an example of _____.

A)ethnic containment
B)ethnic devolution
C)ethnic cleansing
D)perestroika
E)glasnost

Question 53

Explain the extreme differences in wealth that took root during Reagan's first term.

Question 54

Which of the following historic events took place in November 1989?

A)The Berlin Wall came down.
B)The Iran-Iraq War ended.
C)Saddam Hussein was executed.
D)The Cold War ended officially.
E)The Persian Gulf War began.

Question 55

_________ was one of the famous artists who turned hip-hop music into a major part of the American music scene.
A. Rick James
B. Kid Creole
C. Charlie Parker
D. Grandmaster Flash

Question 56

Toward the end of his presidency, _________ was beleaguered by the stagnating economy and the Iranian hostage crisis.
A. Ronald Reagan
B. George H. W. Bush
C. Richard Nixon
D. Jimmy Carter

Question 57

President Bush's approval rating soared to a record-breaking 91 percent when the _________ ended.
A. Persian Gulf War
B. Iraq-Iran War
C. Cold War
D. Vietnam War

Question 58

The Hezbollah terrorist organization was responsible for:

A)the bombing in a Berlin nightclub in 1986 that killed two Marines.
B)leading the fight against the Soviet army in Afghanistan.
C)attacking American oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.
D)a suicide bomber attack that killed 241 U.S. servicepeople in Beirut.
E)helping Iran fight the Iraqi invasion.

Question 59

What were the three key economic policies comprising the Reagan Revolution?

Question 60

What measures did the New Right take to reintroduce conservatism?

Question 61

Describe the United States' conflicting role in the Iran-Contra affair.

Question 62

What changes took place after Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union?

Question 63

How did the Regan Revolution backfire and what were the consequences?

Question 64

How was the poverty and racial disparity of the 1980s reflected in the genre of music that revolutionized the era?

Question 65

Explain the savings and loan (S&L)fiasco. What repercussions did it have?

Question 66

Why did the U.S. get involved in the Persian Gulf War?

Question 67

What led to the fall of the Berlin Wall? What implication did it have for the United States?

Question 68

How did the Tiananmen Square massacre strain U.S.-China relations?

Question 69

Summarize the United States' involvement in the Middle East during the 1980s.

Question 70

How did the United States policy of containment and the arms race contribute to the collapse of the Soviet Union?