Question 1

In his first eight months in office, Reagan

Accepted Answer

In his first eight months in office, Ronald Reagan enacted large tax cuts and budget cuts as part of his economic policy, which was aimed at reducing the size of the federal government and stimulating economic growth.

Question 2

Reagan's second term is best described as a stalemate between liberals and conservatives.

Accepted Answer

Reagan's second term saw significant political gridlock, with Democrats controlling the House and Republicans the Senate, leading to compromises and limited legislative achievements.

Question 3

The Reagan and George H.W. Bush years constituted the largest redistribution of resources and rights upward in the nation's history. The economic situations of poor persons worsened due to

Accepted Answer

During the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, the economic situations of poor persons worsened due to a combination of factors: a deterioration of wages, reductions in social benefits and services, and increases in Social Security taxes. These policies collectively contributed to the redistribution of resources and rights upward, impacting the financial stability of lower-income individuals.

Question 4

Federal block grants are

Accepted Answer

Federal block grants are funds given to state governments to support broad purposes with relatively few restrictions on how the money is spent. This allows states some flexibility in addressing their specific needs within the general guidelines of the grant program.

Question 5

Reagan Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) increased social spending for 57 social programs by folding them into seven block grants.

Accepted Answer

The Reagan Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1981 aimed to reduce federal spending, including cuts to social programs, rather than increasing social spending. It consolidated some programs into block grants but with reduced funding levels.

Question 6

In 1990, women's groups and their allies were able to obtain legislation that channeled some funding for

Accepted Answer

In 1990, women's groups and their allies successfully advocated for legislation that directed funding towards child care programs at the state level, reflecting a significant policy achievement in support of working families.

Question 7

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 provided the disabled with protections against discrimination in the workplace, housing, and public accommodations in both public and private sectors.

Accepted Answer

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public, ensuring that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

Question 8

Reagan's counterrevolution began to lose momentum in his first term due to

Accepted Answer

The deep recession that began in 1981 led to economic difficulties, which undermined support for Reagan's policies and slowed the momentum of his counterrevolution.

Question 9

Ronald Reagan, when Governor of California, initiated a welfare program that many labeled as

Accepted Answer

Reagan's welfare program as Governor of California was often criticized as punitive because it aimed to reduce welfare spending and tighten eligibility requirements, reflecting a conservative approach to welfare reform.

Question 10

Though in the 1970s the LGBT community had focused on civil rights, in the 1980s the focus shifted to

Accepted Answer

In the 1980s, the LGBT community's focus shifted significantly towards addressing the AIDS epidemic, which disproportionately affected gay men. This public health crisis necessitated a shift in priorities towards advocacy for medical research, treatment, and combating stigma associated with the disease.

Question 11

Conservatism made a comeback between 1966 and 1980 which led to the election of Ronald Reagan because

Accepted Answer

Southern and blue-collar voters, traditionally Democratic, began to shift towards the Republican Party due to dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party's policies, contributing to the rise of conservatism and the election of Ronald Reagan.

Question 12

The Reagan and G.H.W. Bush years constituted the largest redistribution of resources and rights upward in the nation's history.

Accepted Answer

During the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, policies such as tax cuts primarily benefiting the wealthy, deregulation, and reductions in social spending contributed to a significant increase in income and wealth inequality, effectively redistributing resources and rights upward.

Question 13

Reagan's sweeping tax cuts primarily helped low- and moderate-income Americans.

Accepted Answer

Reagan's sweeping tax cuts disproportionately benefited the wealthy, reducing the top income tax rate significantly more than the rates for low- and moderate-income Americans.

Question 14

Military spending in the Reagan Administration

Accepted Answer

Military spending significantly increased during the Reagan Administration as part of a strategy to outpace the Soviet Union in the arms race, leading to a substantial buildup of the United States military.

Question 15

Reagan's campaign in 1980 was aided by public opinion that strongly favored conservatism. After the trauma of Vietnam, Watergate, stagflation, and the Iran hostage crisis, many Americans wanted a respite with a president who

Accepted Answer

Reagan's campaign in 1980 benefited from a public desire for simplicity, unity, and moral values after a period of national crises. His ability to project these qualities helped him gain widespread support.

Question 16

Reagan's budget policy emphasized

Accepted Answer

Reagan's budget policy focused on reducing government spending, particularly targeting discretionary programs that assisted poor people, while increasing military spending and cutting taxes, primarily benefiting the wealthy.

Question 17

Conservative policies included within the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act include

Accepted Answer

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act included conservative policies such as $90 billion in budget cuts, termination of the CETA program, and significant cuts in means-tested programs for low-income individuals, making all the provided options correct.

Question 18

"Supply-side economics"

Accepted Answer

Supply-side economics focuses on reducing taxes and decreasing regulation to encourage production, which proponents argue will lead to increased economic growth and prosperity. It is particularly associated with policies that benefit wealthier individuals and corporations, under the theory that these groups will invest in productive capacities.

Question 19

The problem of homelessness, as we experience it today, took root and expanded beyond skid-row males with substance abuse problems to a much larger and broader population because

Accepted Answer

The problem of homelessness expanded due to a combination of factors, including reduced funding for federal Section 8 housing under Reagan, cuts in Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and insufficient funding for the Veterans Administration, all of which contributed to a broader and more diverse homeless population.

Question 20

The ______ status of conservatives was illustrated by the landslide defeat in 1964 of Barry Goldwater.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is "minority" because the landslide defeat of Barry Goldwater in 1964 indicates that conservatives were not the dominant or majority political group at that time.

Quiz 9: The Conservative Counterrevolution in the Era of Reagan and Bush, Sr