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WorksheetsAmerica in the 1980s and 1990s
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 52mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Elements in the Contract with America, such as tax cuts and welfare reform, were based on the premise that
a)
government should be smaller and more efficient.
b)
government should assist those in need when necessary.
c)
the values of government should reflect those of the people.
d)
the branches of government should check and balance each other.
2.
Which quotation could most likely be attributed to Sandra Day O’Connor?
a)
“The power I exert on the Court depends on the power of my arguments, not on my gender.”
b)
“Yes, I did feel a special responsibility to be the first American woman in space.”
c)
“I came to Washington to work for God, FDR, and the millions of forgotten, plain common workingmen.”
3.
The events shown in the boxes illustrate attempts by the United States to -
a)
further the interest of peace in the world
b)
protect its interests in the Middle East
c)
deliver humanitarian aid to Europe
d)
contain the spread of communism in Asia
4.
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?
a)
they desired greater stability in the Middle East
b)
they wished to expand trade with Middle Eastern nations
c)
They want to maintain peace and stop oppression around the world
d)
they only act where American access to scarce resources is at stake
5.
What was the importance of the appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor to the U.S. Supreme Court?
a)
It showed a desire to appoint a strongly anti-Communist justice
b)
It was the first time a woman was appointed to the Supreme Court
c)
It illustrated Reagan's intent to limit judicial activism on the Court.
d)
It showed a desire to appoint Justices without legal training.
6.
The contract referred to in the image was in response by
a)
Americans who oppose Soviet policies
b)
Soviets who oppose Ronald Reagan's policies
c)
conservatives who opposed Bill Clinton's policies
d)
liberals who opposed George H.W. Bush's policies
7.
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.
8.
President Ronald Reagan supported supply-side economics through reduced tax rates to
a)
encourage economic growth
b)
create more public-works jobs
c)
increase government regulation of business
d)
decrease defense spending
9.
Which action did President Ronald Reagan support to achieve economic growth?
a)
lowering taxes on corporations and individuals
b)
increasing spending on social welfare programs
c)
cutting defense budgets
d)
increasing the regulation of industry
10.
Which statement most accurately expresses the main idea of the cartoon?
a)
Successive presidents have failed to deal effectively with illegal drug use.
b)
These presidents were successful in fighting the war on drugs
c)
The war on drugs was the major domestic concern of these presidents.
d)
Many presidents have proposed legislation to decriminalize illegal drugs.
11.
Which event of Bill Clinton’s presidency best illustrates the use of checks and balances?
a)
hosting peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians
b)
reelection to a second term
c)
selection of Al Gore as vice president
d)
impeachment for alleged perjury and obstruction of justice
12.
At the center of Reaganomics was a commitment to
a)
cut taxes.
b)
increase domestic spending.
c)
raise taxes.
d)
solve domestic problems by government action.
13.
In the Iran-Contra affair, the Reagan administration
a)
used earnings from weapons sales to Iran to fund the Contras
b)
paid the Contras to release Americans being held hostage in Iran
c)
secretly hired Iranian agents to fight against the Contras
d)
hired Lebanese agents to rescue Iranians being held by the Contras.
14.
President Ronald Reagan’s supply-side economic policy was successful in
a)
increasing government spending on social programs
b)
lowering tax rates on personal and business income
c)
reducing defense spending
15.
Reagan faced his gravest foreign policy challenge over his illegal support for:
a)
Nicaraguan Contras
b)
the Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran
c)
the Strategic Defense Initiative
d)
the MX missile system
16.
The conservative movement by 1980 was supported by all of the following EXCEPT
a)
the Moral Majority
b)
opponents of affirmative action
c)
advocates of women’s abortion rights
d)
supporters of supply-side economics
17.
The "Contract With America" included all of the following EXCEPT?
a)
a balanced-budget amendment.
b)
health care reform.
c)
welfare reform.
d)
increased defense spending.
18.
What do these events illustrate?
a)
President Clinton’s commitment to peace.
b)
President Clinton’s hesitancy to use military force.
c)
President Clinton’s efforts to police developing nations.
d)
President Clinton’s plans for a world trade organization.
19.
Why were President George H.W. Bush and his administration concerned about Iraq’s military aggression prior to the Persian Gulf War?
a)
They thought the aggression would start an Arab uprising.
b)
They thought the aggression would threaten the sovereignty of Israel
c)
They thought the aggression would threaten the Saudi Arabian oil reserves.
d)
The thought the aggression would spread radical Islam throughout the Middle East.
20.
What was a major criticism of George H.W. Bush's at the end of the Persian Gulf War?
a)
He did not liberate Kuwait.
b)
He did not send enough planes to complete the mission.
c)
He did not force Saddam Hussein from power.
d)
He ignored the needs of the military.
21.
George H.W. Bush illustrated his commitment to the "War on Drugs" and the decreasing of illegal drugs in the United States through the
a)
arrest of Manuel Noriega in Panama
b)
outlawing of prescription drugs in the U.S.
c)
legalizing of medical marijuana
d)
arrest of minor drugs users in the United States
22.
The efforts to impeach President Clinton
a)
made no progress in either the House or the Senate.
b)
led to two indictments in the House but an acquittal in the Senate.
c)
were completely unsuccessful
d)
were ignored
23.
What is the significance of H. Ross Perot in the 1992 election?
a)
He caused Bill Clinton to lose.
b)
He influenced the outcome of the election through his third party candidacy.
c)
He used the internet to gain national attention.
d)
He was the oldest presidential candidate.
24.
The Family and Medical Leave Act:
a)
provides employees with up to 24 weeks of unpaid leave to deal with family matters.
b)
requires companies with 25 or more employees to provide unpaid leave for family matters.
c)
requires companies with 50 or more employees to provide unpaid leave for family matters.
d)
provides employees with up to 12 weeks of paid leave to deal with family matters such as a birth of a child.
25.
The efficiency of telecommunications can be attributed to
a)
the development of satellite technology
b)
decreased consumer demand for products
c)
the development of the microwave
d)
presidential enforcement of technology requirements
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