text quizzes history

Question 1

The presidential election of 1960 featured:
Broad concern that Nixon was not experienced enough.
A razor thin victory for Kennedy aided by his youth and glamor.
Fear that Nixon was too old and frail.
A landslide victory for Nixon.
Television proving surprisingly unimportant in the election.

Answer 1

A razor thin victory for Kennedy aided by his youth and glamor.

Question 2

In the area of economic policy, Kennedy argued that:
The wealthy were not paying their fair share and called to raise tax rates for high earners.
The only way to produce enough revenue to balance the budget was to raise taxes.
High rates of taxes limited the economy so taxes must be reduced.
The progressive tax system should be replaced by a flat tax.
Military spending must be slashed.

Answer 2

High rates of taxes limited the economy so taxes must be reduced.

Question 3

Which of the following is true of the Bay of Pigs invasion?

Kennedy did not support the overthrow of Castro.
It involved the training and support of Cuban exiles invading Cuba in hopes of setting off a revolt.
Planning had begun on the first day of Kennedy’s presidency.
Kennedy nearly saved the mission by ordering air support for the invading forces.
It convinced Castro to improve relations with the United States.

Answer 3

It involved the training and support of Cuban exiles invading Cuba in hopes of setting off a revolt.

Question 4

Upon taking office, Lyndon Johnson:

sought passage of an expanded civil rights bill and the Kennedy tax cuts.
Sought to distance himself from the Kennedy policies.
Was often critical of Kennedy in public.
Tried to block civil rights legislation to maintain southern support.
None of the above.

Answer 4

sought passage of an expanded civil rights bill and the Kennedy tax cuts.

Question 5

The eruption of riots in cities across the nation reflected:

growing frustration with King’s strategy of nonviolent integration.
poor living conditions in northern cities.
emergence of the black power movement.
increased violence.
all of the above.

Answer 5

all of the above.

Question 6

The fundamental problem facing the United States in Vietnam was:

China’s surprise attack from the North.
Johnson’s narrow election win in 1964 made it hard for him to gain political support.

The difficulty maintaining popular support for a limited war in a democracy.

Slow economic growth made it difficult to pay for.
The lack of news coverage made it difficult to maintain public support.

Answer 6

The difficulty maintaining popular support for a limited war in a democracy.

Question 7

All of the following are aspects of the Counterculture EXCEPT:

Drug use.
Rejecting the concepts of hard work and delayed gratification.
Rebelling against societal standards on clothing and hairstyles.
Focusing on political participation.
A sort of spiritual awakening.

Answer 7

Focusing on political participation.

Question 8

What did Nixon’s victory in 1968 indicate?

Americans wanting to more vigorously fight the war in Vietnam.
His popularity with the anti-war movement.
The desire of many Americans for stability in the face of so much upheaval and violence.
Humphrey’s connection to Eisenhower.
None of the above.

Answer 8

The desire of many Americans for stability in the face of so much upheaval and violence.

Question 9

Nixon’s plan to maintain the security of South Vietnam while reducing the American involvement there, involved:

Replacement of American troops with South Vietnamese forces.
Secret meetings with North Vietnam.
Use of heavy bombing attacks to force a deal.
All of the above.

Answer 9

All of the above.

Question 10

Nixon’s foreign policy with China:

was to continue the policy of non-recognition.
was blocked due to his perceived weakness on communism.
exploited the bitter rivalry that had emerged between the Soviet Union and China.
was to wait until Vietnam was over to improve relations.
was viewed as necessary since Nixon intended to become more confrontational with the Soviets.

Answer 10

exploited the bitter rivalry that had emerged between the Soviet Union and China.

Question 11

Which of the following is true of the Watergate scandal?

It began to emerge when intruders were caught breaking into the Democratic Party headquarters.
A nearly 2 year long investigation revealed other abuses of power by the administration.
Efforts to cover-up activities deepened the crisis.
Nixon would ultimately resign in the face of potential impeachment.
All of the above.

Answer 11

all of the above

Question 12

Which groups made up Reagan’s election winning coalition? (select all that apply)

Evangelical Christians.
Social conservatives.
Blue Collar workers

Supporters of drug legalization.

Groups calling for expanded social programs.

Answer 12

Evangelical Christians.
Social conservatives.
Blue Collar workers

Question 13

All of the following are consequences of Nixon’s downfall EXCEPT:

Democrats increased their majorities in Congress.
Ford inherited a badly damaged presidency.
Congress pledged continued financial support to protect South Vietnam from Communist forces violating the peace agreement.
American standing in the world was diminished.

Answer 13

Congress pledged continued financial support to protect South Vietnam from Communist forces violating the peace agreement.

Question 14

Reagan’s tax cuts and Federal Reserve monetary policy resulted in all of the following EXCEPT:

A short but sharp recession.
a reduction in the size of government.
decreased inflation and a rapidly growing economy.
criticism from many economists and Democrats.

Answer 14

a reduction in the size of government.

Question 15

Reagan’s foreign policy involved all of the following EXCEPT:

A large military buildup.
Less confrontational rhetoric.
Support for anti-Communist groups around the globe.
Development of an anti-missile defense system SDI
Willingness to negotiate with Mikhail Gorbachev.

Answer 15

Less confrontational rhetoric.

Question 16

All of the following are true of Eisenhower’s Farewell Address EXCEPT:

He warned Americans to be mindful of mortgaging the future of the next generations by spending too freely.
He warned against the acquisition of influence by the “military-industrial complex.”
He argued that we must protect our individual liberties and democratic processes.
He cautioned against sicentific research becoming too dependent on government funding.
He argued that the founding values and ideals of the country no longer were appropriate in the modern world.

Answer 16

He argued that the founding values and ideals of the country no longer were appropriate in the modern world.

Question 17

In his inaugural address, Kennedy:

Pledged to wage the Cold War vigorously.
Sought to diminish tensions with the Soviet Union.
Called for the passage of sweeping civil rights legislation.
Argued that the United States no longer faced any serious threats.
None of the above are true.

Answer 17

Sought to diminish tensions with the Soviet Union.

Question 18

All of the following is true of Kennedy’s Vietnam policy EXCEPT:

He viewed South Vietnam as a bulwark against Communist expansion in the region.
He sent 16,000 American military personnel to the region.
He and his advisors concluded the Diem regime was hopeless.
Kennedy concluded the situation in Vietnam was worsening and sought the immediate removal of American forces.
Kennedy approved the overthrow of the Diem regime.

Answer 18

Kennedy concluded the situation in Vietnam was worsening and sought the immediate removal of American forces.

Question 19

In the area of civil rights, Kennedy:

Openly opposed civil rights legislation.
Demonstrated remarkable political courage in demanding civil rights legislation.
Proved reluctant to take action.
Feared the political power of northern Republicans.
Demonstrated to civil rights leaders that he was their full partner.

Answer 19

Demonstrated remarkable political courage in demanding civil rights legislation.

Question 20

The Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas decision, revealed:

The civil rights movement was winning important legal victories.
Progress was being made in the area of civil rights.
Enforcement of legal rulings proved difficult.
Direct actions would be required to force change.
All of the above are true.

Answer 20

All of the above are true.

Question 21

All of the following is true of Martin Luther King Jr., EXCEPT:

He emerged as a national figure during the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
He fused the religious piety of his upbringing with a passion for social change.
He rejected the American political heritage as a lie and inherently racist.
He was strongly influenced by Gandhi and the concept of nonviolent resistance.
He argued for the achievement of reconciliation and fellowship with the opponents of civil rights.

Answer 21

He rejected the American political heritage as a lie and inherently racist.

Question 22

Which of the following is true of the Republican party split in the 1964 presidential election?

Northeastern seized control from Sunbelt conservatives.
Ronald Reagan and the conservative faction would emerge as a rising star.
The party embraced calls for expanded government programs.
Goldwater’s loss would weaken the conservative faction.
All of the above.

Answer 22

Ronald Reagan and the conservative faction would emerge as a rising star.

Question 23

All of the following are aspects of LBJ’s Great Society EXCEPT:

Medicaid and Medicare
Child Nutrition Act
Civil Rights Act
Balanced Budget Amendment
National Endowment for the Arts

Answer 23

Balanced Budget Amendment

Question 24

According to the author, the passions evoked by the presidency of Nixon reveal:

his inability to accomplish much.
the difficulty in examining recent history with perspective and balance.
the importance of including contemporary approval ratings in evaluating the past.
that the criticisms of Nixon were unfounded.
None of the above.

Answer 24

the difficulty in examining recent history with perspective and balance.

Question 25

Nixon’s political success was based on all of the following EXCEPT:

His talent for compromise.
the ability to forge different coalitions.
an assertive anti-Communist foreign policy.
his rigid political and economic ideology.
the moderate social and economic policies he supported.

Answer 25

his rigid political and economic ideology.

Question 26

Nixon’s conduct in foreign affairs marked:

rejection of the containment doctrine.
the belief that foreign policy should be guided the national interest.
his recommitment to Kennedy’s pledge “to pay any price, bear any burden,” in support of liberty.
more reliance on the use of American military forces around the globe.
None of the above.

Answer 26

the belief that foreign policy should be guided the national interest.

Question 27

In domestic policy, Nixon was confronted by all of the following challenges EXCEPT:

Democrats held majorities in both houses of Congress.
The massive spending of the Johnson administration had led to large deficits and soaring inflation.
His wage and price controls were wildly unpopular.
Congress refused to cut spending.
The “Nixon shock,” and expert opinion would ultimately prove ineffective and cause problems later.

Answer 27

The “Nixon shock,” and expert opinion would ultimately prove ineffective and cause problems later.

Question 28

Nixon’s New Federalism involved:

his efforts to increase the power of the central government.
a return to the Constitution’s original federalism.
his attempts to micromanage the economy.
a move to use block-grants of federal funds to return power to states and municipalities.
None of the above.

Answer 28

a move to use block-grants of federal funds to return power to states and municipalities.

Question 29

The Iranian hostage crisis and Soviet invasion of Afghanistan:

increased public support for Carter’s human rights approach to foreign policy.
softened Carter’s hawkish approach to the Soviets.
Convinced Carter to slash the military budget.
Contributed to the public image of Carter as weak and inept.
All of the above.

Answer 29

Contributed to the public image of Carter as weak and inept.

Question 30

The Camp David Accords involved all of the following EXCEPT:

Egyptian recognition of Israel.
inability to resolve the Palestinian refugee situation.
The popularity of Egyptian leader Sadat in the Arab world following the agreement.
a breakthrough in relations, though not the hoped for regional peace.
All of the above.

Answer 30

The popularity of Egyptian leader Sadat in the Arab world following the agreement.

Question 31

Carter’s approach to foreign policy:

was broadly popular with Americans.
emphasized promotion of human rights.
rejected the idealism of Kennedy.
promoted the rollback of communism.
All of the above.

Answer 31

emphasized promotion of human rights

Question 32

On domestic issues, Carter:

was able to make the U.S. energy independent through conservation efforts.
sought to slash taxes to stimulate the economy.
presided over dramatic increases in inflation.
Cut spending to reduce the deficit and inflationary pressures.
None of the above.

Answer 32

None of the above.

Question 33

Arthur Schlesinger’s Imperial Presidency argued:

presidential power had grown to dangerous levels and threatened our constitutional democracy.
we needed a return to the more limited foreign policy of Kennedy.
Nixon’s New Federalism must be reigned in to control executive power.
executive branch power had to be expanded to deal with economic and military threats.
None of the above.

Answer 33

presidential power had grown to dangerous levels and threatened our constitutional democracy.