Name: Class: Date:

America in the 1980s and 1990s Topic Test

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

1. “Parents, we can stop the violence and the hate. In a culture rife with violence—where too many young
people place too little value on a human life—we can rise up and say no more. We have seen enough
violence in our schools. We must replace a culture of violence and mayhem with one of values and meaning.
It is too easy for a young child to get a gun—and everywhere we look, there are too many lessons in how to
use one. We can do something about that.”—Vice President Al Gore, April 25, 1999

In this speech, Vice President Gore was calling for Americans to

A. change their cultural values and gun laws.
B. change guns laws only.
C. make it easier for people to own guns.
D. remove guns from private ownership.

2. “And now the Soviets themselves may, in a limited way, be coming to understand the importance of
freedom... Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state? Or are they token gestures,
intended to raise false hopes in the West, or to strengthen the Soviet system without changing it? We
welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance
of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make
that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace.

General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern
Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev,
tear down this wall!”—Ronald Reagan, June 12, 1987

In which city did Ronald Reagan give this speech?

A. Berlin
B. Moscow
C. Paris
D. Warsaw

3. Congressional legislation that reduces government regulation of automobile production in the United
States stems from
A. the conservative belief that limiting regulation will promote economic growth.
B. the conservative belief that regulation will increase consumer confidence in automobiles.
C. the liberal belief that regulation will decrease tax revenue over time.
D. the liberal belief that limiting regulation will increase consumer spending.

4. What viewpoint did Ronald Reagan assume regarding the Brady Bill?
A. He believed no one except for the police and military should be allowed to own guns.
B. He believed some moderate gun control measures should be implemented.
C. He thought gun owners should be carefully evaluated before being allowed to buy guns.
D. He thought trying to enforce laws restricting gun ownership violates basic rights.

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5. “[I]t took 8 years and two vetoes to make this legislation the law of the land. Now millions of our people
will no longer have to choose between their jobs and their families.

The law guarantees the right of up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year when it's urgently needed at home to
care for a newborn child or an ill family member. This bill will strengthen our families, and I believe it will
strengthen our businesses and our economy as well.”—Bill Clinton, February 5, 1993

President Clinton gave these remarks upon signing which act into law?
A. the Welfare Reform Act
B. the Healthcare Reform Act
C. the Defense of Marriage Act
D. the Family Medical Leave Act

6. “This is the issue of this election, whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we
abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan
our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.”— Ronald Reagan, “A Time for Choosing”

Reagan made this statement

A. to support the policies of the New Deal.
B. to oppose the power of the federal government.
C. to oppose local government.
D. to call for more federal regulations.

7. “Intense rivalry between enemies during World War II brought about a life-and-death race to develop new
technologies, such as the computer. The U.S. government funded research that led to the creation of the first
modern computer in 1946. This huge machine occupied the entire basement of the research lab. It
calculated artillery ranges and performed computations for the atomic bomb.”

In what way did the development of the computer represent a technological innovation for the military in the
1940s?
A. Computers were used to conduct scientific research.
B. Computers were used to make more efficient weapons.
C. Computers were used to take the place of soldiers on the battlefield.
D. Computers were used to maintain a rivalry with the Soviet Union.

8. “Last week in one of the most profound electoral routs in American history, Republicans won the right to
occupy the Capitol and mount what their . . . commanders think of as a counter-revolution: a full-scale
attack on the notion that a central government should play a central role in the life of the nation.”—
Newsweek magazine

The event discussed in this article from Newsweek was inspired by

A. the Family Medical Leave Act.
B. the Brady bill.
C. the Contract with America.
D. healthcare reform.

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9. In the text you read this about President Reagan's military buildup: Reagan supported this massive military
buildup, in part, because he did not believe that the Soviet Union could afford to spend as much on defense as
the United States could. Reagan felt this applied particularly to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), a
proposed program in which land and space-based lasers would destroy any missiles aimed at the United
States before they could reach their targets. Some dubbed the missile program “Star Wars,” after the popular
science-fiction movie trilogy, and claimed that it was unrealistic.

What did President Reagan believe would be a result of the Strategic Defense Initiative?
A. It would lead to a concession on behalf of the Soviet Union.
B. It would lead to the Soviet Union invading fewer countries.
C. It would lead to democracy being adopted in the Soviet Union.
D. It would lead to the Soviet Union being economically bankrupt.

10. Which trend best explains the increasing popularity of the Moral Majority in the early 1980s?
A. increased spending associated with Great Society programs
B. increased opposition to U.S. military deployments after Vietnam
C. the perceived decline of what many considered traditional family values
D. the decline in the number of U.S. citizens who vote in federal elections

11. As is clear from this map, during the Persian Gulf War, Iraq was at a military disadvantage because it

A. was not on the Mediterranean Sea.

B. bordered Saudi Arabia.
C. used SCUD missiles.
D. was attacked on several fronts.

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12. From the data in these pie charts, which statement can be assumed to be true?

A. Fewer Republicans voted in 1980 than in 1984.

B. There was a larger turnout of eligible voters in 1980 than 1984.
C. The Republican Party won more large states in 1984 than in 1980.
D. Small, densely populated states had more influence in 1980 than in 1984.

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13. In which year did the trade deficit between the United States and Japan first reach approximately 60
billion dollars?

A. 1982
B. 1984
C. 1986
D. 1988

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14. The people who supported Ronald Reagan’s bid for the presidency most likely also supported

A. new federal programs.

B. liberal social values.
C. fiscal responsibility.
D. increased spending.

15. American intervention in Lebanon ended after

A. order was restored in the nation.
B. a brutal attack against American forces.
C. it was determined that war was imminent.
D. the Lebanese government asked the U.S. military to leave.

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16. Jerry Falwell, one of the leaders of the New Right, promoted

A. the influence of evangelicals on conservative political thought.

B. the influence of conservative economic ideas on the Republican party.
C. the influence of evangelicals on national education reform.
D. the influence of liberal social ideas on the Republican party.

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17. In this 1995 political cartoon, the artist is suggesting that

A. the Democrats are more capable than the Republicans.

B. the Republicans are clearly in control of Congress.
C. the Republicans are incapable of working with Democrats.
D. the Democrats are out of touch with the public interest.

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18. During the Reagan administration, Muammar al-Qaddafi threatened security in

A. southern Europe.
B. the Middle East.
C. Central Asia.
D. North Africa.

19. Which position best explains why many were against healthcare reform in the 1990s?
A. opposition to the Brady Bill
B. opposition to the Family Medical Leave Act
C. reluctance to expand the federal bureaucracy
D. disagreement with increasing the political autonomy of states

20. Which person was most responsible for beginning the modern conservative movement?
A. Jerry Falwell
B. Milton Friedman
C. Barry Goldwater
D. Ronald Reagan

21. The theory of supply-side economics involved

A. deregulating major industries in order to promote economic growth.
B. providing tax incentives to businesses who hire low-income workers.
C. lowering taxes for all Americans as a means of collecting greater revenue.
D. raising taxes for wealthy Americans and lowering them for the middle class.

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22. President Reagan believed in fighting the spread of communism by

A. building a larger and more powerful weapons arsenal.
B. funding civil wars against communists in other nations.
C. promoting the idea that democracy is the better form of government.
D. negotiating with the leaders of communist nations throughout the world.

23. Which Bush Administration policy goal is best reflected in the arrest of Manuel Noriega in Panama?
A. increasing the amount of imported goods from Latin America
B. increasing democratic elections in Central American nations
C. decreasing the supply of illegal drugs in the United States
D. decreasing the number of illegal immigrants from Latin America

24. The Brady Bill, signed by Bill Clinton in 1993, did which of the following?
A. It raised taxes for the very wealthy.
B. It kept known criminals from buying guns.
C. It expanded tax credits for higher education.
D. It provided for a national health care system.

25. Rising problems in the 1980s included all of the following except
A. the threat of HIV and AIDS.
B. health problems related to obesity.
C. conflicts over gun-related violence.
D. increased drug use among Americans.

26. By appointing conservative judges, opposing labor, and promoting tax cuts and deregulation,
President Reagan
A. showed his support for liberal causes.
B. strengthened the conservative movement.
C. revealed how the free world could win the Cold War.
D. demonstrated his opposition to social engineering.

27. The Persian Gulf War was triggered by

A. the desire to bring democracy to nations in the Middle East.
B. Iraq's threat to Israel.
C. fears that Iraq's annexation of Kuwait would threaten world oil supplies.
D. the expansion of al Qaeda.

28. Bill Clinton won the presidency in 1992 partly because of

A. the recession, the rising deficit, and Bush's sinking popularity.
B. Bush's campaign pledge not to raise taxes.
C. the outcome of the Persian Gulf War.
D. his attempt to steer the Democrats further to the left.

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29. The Clinton administration sent U.S. troops to various parts of the world in order to
A. fight communist insurgents.
B. prevent civil wars.
C. protect human rights.
D. intervene in civil wars.

30. President Clinton was impeached on charges of

A. fraud and tax evasion
B. embezzlement
C. insider trading
D. perjury and obstruction of justice

Essay
Read each question, and write your answer in complete sentences.

31. After he was elected president, what approach did George H. W. Bush support to control federal spending?

32. What were the chief factors that contributed to the decline of liberalism in the late 1970s?

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33. What was the Iran-Contra affair, and how did it impact the Reagan administration?

34. What role did the administration of George H. W. Bush play in bringing democracy to South Africa?

35. What was the Contract with America, and what did it seek to accomplish?

36. What led to President George H. W. Bush’s decline in popularity after it reached an all-time high after
the Persian Gulf War?

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37. How did the Moral Majority influence the outcome of the 1980 presidential election?

38. What caused economic inequality to rise in the early 1980s even as the economy improved overall?

39. How did Mikhail Gorbachev’s leadership change the relationship between the United States and the
Soviet Union?

40. How did satellite technology begin, and how did it develop into an important component of American life?

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America in the 1980s and 1990s Topic Test
Answer Section

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. ANS: A DIF: medium

2. ANS: A DIF: medium
3. ANS: A DIF: medium
4. ANS: B DIF: medium
5. ANS: D DIF: medium
6. ANS: B DIF: medium
7. ANS: B DIF: medium
8. ANS: C DIF: medium
9. ANS: D DIF: medium
10. ANS: C DIF: medium
11. ANS: D DIF: medium
12. ANS: A DIF: medium
13. ANS: C DIF: medium
14. ANS: C DIF: medium
15. ANS: B DIF: medium
16. ANS: A DIF: medium
17. ANS: B DIF: medium
18. ANS: D DIF: medium
19. ANS: C DIF: medium
20. ANS: C DIF: medium
21. ANS: C DIF: medium
22. ANS: A DIF: medium
23. ANS: C DIF: medium
24. ANS: B DIF: medium
25. ANS: B DIF: medium
26. ANS: D DIF: medium
27. ANS: D DIF: medium
28. ANS: C DIF: medium
29. ANS: D DIF: medium
30. ANS: D DIF: medium

ESSAY

31. ANS:
President Bush encouraged Americans to volunteer as a means of controlling federal spending. He made the
argument that if individuals and community organizations took a larger role in helping the poor and needy,
it would reduce the need for the government to play a prominent role in American life.

DIF: medium

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 32. ANS:
Beginning in the 1960s, the Vietnam War and the civil unrest that plagued many urban areas in the United
States began to weaken the image of the Democratic Party. The early results of President Johnsonu2019s
Great Society programs had been somewhat disappointing. Liberal policies were blamed for the economic
stagflation that occurred in the 1970s, and some believed that the welfare programs designed to help the poor
rewarded a lack of effort and damaged the traditional family structure.

DIF: medium
33. ANS:
In the Iran-Contra affair, the United States agreed to sell weapons to the Iranians in exchange for releasing
American hostages; the money from these deals was allegedly used to fund the Contras in Nicaragua. This
arrangement contradicted Reaganu2019s policy of not negotiating with terrorists, and Congress had
previously banned any support of the Contras. Although the act was illegal, it had a minimal impact on the
Reagan administration. While some of Reaganu2019s aides were convicted of charges related to the scandal,
Reagan himself never admitted to involvement and left office with a positive reputation.

DIF: medium
34. ANS:
Congress imposed economic sanctions on South Africa to discourage the system of apartheid and to
encourage the release of Nelson Mandela from prison. After Mandela was released, Bush met with him to
discuss the importance of bringing democracy to South Africa; shortly after, free elections were held in
which Mandela was elected president.

DIF: medium
35. ANS:
The Contract with America was a plan proposed by Newt Gingrich, which proved very popular with
Republicans in the mid-1990s. It sought to reduce bureaucracy at the federal level, enforce congressional
term limits, and cut taxes substantially while also increasing defense spending.

DIF: medium
36. ANS:
Even after the war, Saddam Hussein remained a threat, leaving many to believe that Bush had not completed
his mission in the Middle East. The economy faced a recession, and many Americans felt betrayed when Bush
reneged on his promise not to raise taxes. This led to the victory of Democrat Bill Clinton in the 1992
presidential election.

DIF: medium
37. ANS:
The Moral Majority, which invariably supported conservative candidates, reached out to people who normally
did not participate in the political process and encouraged them to vote. They also distributed u201creport
cardsu201d on candidates, which helped voters make decisions about for whom they should vote.

DIF: medium

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 38. ANS:
The policies of the Carter administration led to a recession in the first two years of Reaganu2019s
presidency, which hurt many blue-collar workers and farmers. However, even as Reaganu2019s economic
policies revitalized much of the economy, wages for many workers generally remained stagnant, while tax
cuts and deregulation of business increased the wealth of richer Americans.

DIF: medium
39. ANS:
Under Gorbachevu2019s leadership, the Soviet Union adopted elements of a free market economy and
developed a more open relationship with the rest of the world. These policies led President Reagan to soften
his stance towards the Soviet Union, and the two leaders developed an alliance that relieved much of the
pressure between the two nations.

DIF: medium
40. ANS:
Satellite technology, which sends and receives signals from outer space, was originally developed for
military purposes during the Cold War. Beginning in the 1980s, it enabled the development of cable
television and mass-produced cellular phones, as well as global positioning systems, which facilitate
navigation.

DIF: medium

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