America in the 1980s and 1990s

Elements in the Contract with America, such as tax cuts and welfare reform, were based on the premise that

• government should be smaller and more efficient.
• government should assist those in need when necessary.
• the values of government should reflect those of the people.
• the branches of government should check and balance each other.

Which quotation could most likely be attributed to Sandra Day O’Connor?

•  “The power I exert on the Court depends on the power of my arguments, not on my gender.”
•  “Yes, I did feel a special responsibility to be the first American woman in space.”
• “I came to Washington to work for God, FDR, and the millions of forgotten, plain common workingmen.”

The events shown in the boxes illustrate attempts by the United States to -

• further the interest of peace in the world
• protect its interests in the Middle East
• deliver humanitarian aid to Europe
• contain the spread of communism in Asia

What did the events of the Persian Gulf War and the Balkans crisis in the 1990s indicate about the foreign policy goals of American leaders?

• they desired greater stability in the Middle East
• they wished to expand trade with Middle Eastern nations
• They want to maintain peace and stop oppression around the world
• they only act where American access to scarce resources is at stake

What was the importance of the appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor to the U.S. Supreme Court?

• It showed a desire to appoint a strongly anti-Communist justice
• It was the first time a woman was appointed to the Supreme Court
• It illustrated Reagan's intent to limit judicial activism on the Court.
• It showed a desire to appoint Justices without legal training.

The contract referred to in the image was in response by

• Americans who oppose Soviet policies
• Soviets who oppose Ronald Reagan's policies
• conservatives who opposed Bill Clinton's policies
• liberals who opposed George H.W. Bush's policies

The theory of supply-side economics involved

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

President Ronald Reagan supported supply-side economics through reduced tax rates to 

• encourage economic growth
• create more public-works jobs
• increase government regulation of business
• decrease defense spending

Which action did President Ronald Reagan support to achieve economic growth? 

• lowering taxes on corporations and individuals 
• increasing spending on social welfare programs
• cutting defense budgets
• increasing the regulation of industry

Which statement most accurately expresses the main idea of the cartoon?

• Successive presidents have failed to deal effectively with illegal drug use.
• These presidents were successful in fighting the war on drugs
• The war on drugs was the major domestic concern of these presidents.
• Many presidents have proposed legislation to decriminalize illegal drugs.