Deck 29: Post-Cold War America, 1991-2000

Question 1

The widening gap between rich and poor in the 1990s was reflected in which of the following?

A) the increasing ratio between chief executive pay and the earnings of the average worker
B) the slow decline of housing prices in urban areas
C) the return of 1970s-style stagflation
D) the increasing number of children per family in poor communities

Answer 1

the increasing ratio between chief executive pay and the earnings of the average worker

Question 2

During the 1990s, __________

A) new barriers to international trade were put in place
B) all sectors of American society enjoyed the fruits of economic growth
C) the gap between the rich and poor shrank
D) union membership declined

Answer 2

union membership declined

Question 3

What did Bill McCartney and Louis Farrakhan have in common?

A) They both supported the Contract with America.
B) They both supported a woman's right to choose.
C) They both believed in racial segregation.
D) They were both concerned with the role of fathers in society.

Answer 3

They were both concerned with the role of fathers in society.

Question 4

What did Bill Clinton mean when he described himself as a "New Democrat"?

A) that he embraced the reform agenda of the New Deal
B) that he had centrist political inclinations
C) that he opposed all forms of social welfare
D) that he agreed with conservatives on cultural issues

Question 5

In 1995, __________ organized the Million Man March.

A) Jerry Falwell
B) Al Sharpton
C) Louis Farrakhan
D) Jesse Jackson

Question 6

The demise of the Soviet Union __________.

A) was a boon for the economy of southern California
B) set off a global depression
C) did not bring about the end of the Cold War
D) ended the arms race

Question 7

California's Proposition 227 __________.

A) denied government services to undocumented workers
B) placed a moratorium on new immigration into the state
C) ended bilingual education
D) was supported by most of the state's Latino population

Question 8

Which of the following accurately characterizes the economic situation of African Americans in the 1990s?

A) One-third of African Americans were part of the middle class.
B) Almost 90 percent of African Americans lived below the poverty line.
C) Middle-class African Americans were economically more secure than their white counterparts.
D) Most poor African American families were headed by a single father.

Question 9

What strategy did Julia Hill Butterfly employ to bring attention to environmental issues?

A) tree sitting
B) economic boycotts
C) terrorist attacks
D) petition drives

Question 10

By the end of the 1990s, the top 1 percent of Americans owned more wealth than the bottom __________ percent combined.

A) 30
B) 50
C) 70
D) 90

Question 11

Julia Butterfly Hill was a(n) __________ activist.

A) civil rights
B) human rights
C) environmental
D) voting rights

Question 12

Anita Hill accused Clarence Thomas of __________.

A) cheating on his taxes
B) physical assault
C) embezzlement
D) sexual harassment

Question 13

Which of the following was true of American attitudes toward homosexuality in 1994?

A) A majority of Americans considered homosexuality acceptable.
B) A majority of American approved of gay marriage.
C) A majority of Americans believed that gay couples should be able to adopt children.
D) A majority of Americans believed that homosexuality was a choice, not an inherent characteristic.

Question 14

During the 1990s, the __________ sector of the economy grew rapidly.

A) technology
B) defense
C) manufacturing
D) agricultural

Question 15

Which of the following was true of the Los Angeles riots?

A) Both rioters and their victims came from all racial groups.
B) The rioters targeted black-owned businesses.
C) The riots went on for over two months.
D) Despite widespread property damage, only two people lost their lives during the riots.

Question 16

The 1991 Los Angeles riots were sparked by __________.

A) the death of Rodney King
B) the acquittal of the police officers in the Rodney King case
C) the release of video footage of the Rodney King beating
D) calls by Rodney King for violent protest

Question 17

__________ ran as the Reform party candidate in 1992.

A) Donald Trump
B) Newt Gingrich
C) Ross Perot
D) Al Gore

Question 18

Why did California put Proposition 187 on the ballot?

A) to establish a state border control agency
B) to end bilingual education
C) to deny legal rights to same-sex couples
D) to deny social services to undocumented immigrants

Question 19

Which of the following devastated the southern California aerospace industry?

A) the Los Angeles riots
B) a series of earthquakes
C) the end of the Cold War
D) the signing of NAFTA

Question 20

The Promise Keepers were focused on __________.

A) the rights and responsibilities of fathers
B) furthering the cause of social justice
C) diffusing racial tensions
D) improving the environment for future generations

Question 21

The 1996 Welfare Reform Act __________.

A) abolished Aid to Families with Dependent Children
B) passed over President Clinton's veto
C) was strongly opposed by congressional Republicans
D) improved the lives of millions of poor Americans

Question 22

President Clinton was the first American president to __________.

A) visit China
B) negotiate a trade deal with the European Union
C) visit Vietnam
D) open talks with Fidel Castro

Question 23

Which of the following influenced President Clinton's response to the 1994 crisis in Rwanda?

A) the commitment of U.S. forces in the former Yugoslavia
B) the ongoing Kenneth Starr investigation
C) the earlier U.S. intervention in Somalia
D) the bombing of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania

Question 24

The FBI faced fierce criticism for its raid on the Branch Davidian compound in __________.

A) Waco, Texas
B) Chicago, Illinois
C) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
D) Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Question 25

Which of the following was a key provision of the Contract with America?

A) campaign finance reform
B) an end to legal abortion
C) universal healthcare
D) stronger environmental regulations

Question 26

During the Clinton administration, __________ remained off limits to U.S. trade and tourism.

A) Cuba
B) Mexico
C) Chile
D) Guatemala

Question 27

Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" policy applied to __________.

A) Americans living below the poverty level
B) gays in the military
C) undocumented immigrants
D) his inner circle of advisors

Question 28

In the 1992 election, Republicans __________.

A) called for a renewal of the Cold War
B) embraced aspects of the liberal reform agenda
C) attacked permissiveness in American society
D) repudiated the politics of cultural division

Question 29

Impeachment proceedings against President Clinton centered on allegations of __________.

A) bribery and corruption
B) treason and espionage
C) financial impropriety
D) perjury and obstruction of justice

Question 30

The attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was carried out by __________.

A) Iraqis
B) Saudis
C) Americans
D) Palestinians

Question 31

Which of the following offered strong opposition to passage of NAFTA and GATT?

A) labor unions
B) multinational companies
C) conservative Republicans
D) the pharmaceuticals industry

Question 32

Congressional efforts to impeach President Clinton __________.

A) failed in the House of Representatives
B) enjoyed bipartisan support
C) were strongly supported by the American public
D) did little to undermine Clinton's popularity

Question 33

Clinton's first federal budget __________.

A) raised taxes on the wealthiest Americans
B) increased spending across the board
C) eliminated tax credits for low-income families
D) increased military spending by 25 percent

Question 34

NAFTA eliminated trade barriers between the United States, Mexico, and __________.

A) the European Union
B) Canada
C) Costa Rica
D) Brazil

Question 35

In 1992, Bill Clinton __________.

A) failed to win a majority of the popular vote
B) won both the popular and electoral college votes
C) won more than 60 percent of the popular vote
D) ran for president as a New Deal Democrat

Question 36

Which of the following was a notable foreign policy success for President Clinton?

A) mediation in Northern Ireland
B) intervention in Rwanda
C) intervention in Libya
D) mediation between Israel and the Palestinians

Question 37

After the end of the Cold War, __________ tore Yugoslavia apart.

A) ethnic nationalism
B) economic unrest
C) religious controversies
D) a series of political scandals

Question 38

Violence aimed at __________ prompted Congress to pass legislation aimed at protecting such clinics in 1994.

A) drug rehabilitation centers
B) abortion providers
C) free emergency care centers
D) sex education providers

Question 39

Which of the following was true of the Clintons' efforts to pass health care reform?

A) Their efforts resulted in the implementation of several important reforms.
B) Their plan passed Congress, but was struck down by the Supreme Court.
C) Their plan failed to pass the Senate by a single vote.
D) Their efforts were abandoned after a year of hearings and no action by Congress.

Question 40

Human rights activists lobbied against President Clinton's efforts to grant __________ most-favored-nation trade status.

A) Saudi Arabia
B) Egypt
C) Russia
D) China

Question 41

How did Americans in the bottom half of the income ladder fare in the 1990s?

Question 42

Which of the following medical breakthroughs took place in the 1990s?

A) Scientists solved the problem of drug-resistant bacteria.
B) Scientists developed a vaccine for polio.
C) Scientists successfully cloned a sheep.
D) Scientists developed a cure for HIV-AIDS.

Question 43

What was the apparent motive behind the Oklahoma City bombing?

A) anger over U.S. military bases in Saudi Arabia
B) retaliation for the FBI raid on the Branch Davidians
C) revenge for the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi
D) concern about environmental degradation

Question 44

What was made clear by the 2000 presidential election in Florida?

A) the widespread flaws in the voting system
B) the widespread existence of in-person voter fraud
C) the widespread disfranchisement of working-class whites
D) the widespread bribery of election officials

Question 45

Why was the outcome of the 2000 presidential election so controversial?

Question 46

The Brady Bill banned __________.

A) the use of federal funds by abortion providers
B) the distribution of free contraception
C) assault rifles
D) prayer in school

Question 47

Justice Stephen Breyer argued that the majority ruling that halted the Florida recount __________.

A) was a clear case of corruption
B) was the only possible ruling
C) would undermine the public's faith in the judicial system
D) would end the controversy over the 2000 election

Question 48

The 2000 presidential election was ultimately determined by whoever would secure the electoral votes of which state?

A) New York
B) Florida
C) Washington
D) Georgia

Question 49

Which of the following was true of abortion in the United States during the 1990s?

A) Access to abortion providers in rural areas fell sharply.
B) The number of abortions performed each year skyrocketed.
C) All abortions were made illegal in several states.
D) Abortion ceased to be a significant political issue.

Question 50

What was the Contract with America? How did President Clinton respond to Republican efforts to implement the programs outlined in the Contract?

Question 51

Which of the following was true of the 2000 election?

A) Al Gore won the popular vote.
B) The election was resolved in the House of Representatives.
C) George Bush won an electoral college landslide.
D) Voter intimidation in California and Texas swung the election to George Bush.

Question 52

How did Anita Hill's accusations against Clarence Thomas shape his confirmation hearings? What issues did the confirmation hearings bring to the public's attention?

Question 53

Osama bin Laden was linked to the __________.

A) attacks on U.S. embassies in east Africa
B) 1993 World Trade Center bombing
C) 1995 Oklahoma City bombing
D) Unabomber attacks

Question 54

Which of the following ultimately determined the outcome of the 2000 election?

A) the Supreme Court of the United States
B) the House of Representatives
C) the U.S. Senate
D) the Florida legislature