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STRAIGHTERLINE U.S. HISTORY II FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
STRAIGHTERLINE U.S. HISTORY II FINAL EXAM
EXAM COVERAGE (
1. Reconstruction, Industrialization, Progressive Era, World Wars, Cold War, Civil Rights & Contemporary United States History (Core Exam Area) - Reconstruction (approximately 1877) to the present - Political, economic, social, diplomatic, and cultural developments - Major historical events, constitutional developments, public policy - Economic transformation, wars, social reform movements - America's evolving role in world affairs - Historical interpretation, cause-and-effect relationships - Analysis of primary and secondary historical sources 2. Reconstruction & the New South - Presidential and Congressional Reconstruction - Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) - Reconstruction governments - End of Reconstruction - Rise of Jim Crow laws - Voting restrictions - Political, economic, and social changes in the South after 1877 3. Industrialization, Urbanization & Immigration - Second Industrial Revolution - Railroad expansion - Big business and monopolies - Labor unions - Immigration waves - Urban growth - Technological innovation - Entrepreneurship - Economic transformation of the United States (late 19th century) 4. The Progressive Era - Progressive reform movements - Political reform - Labor legislation - Women's suffrage - Consumer protection - Trust regulation - Conservation - Municipal reform - Expansion of government oversight 5. American Imperialism & World War I - Overseas expansion
- Spanish-American War
- Philippines and Panama Canal
- Diplomacy
- Causes of World War I
- U.S. involvement in World War I
- Home-front mobilization
- Treaty of Versailles 6. The Roaring Twenties & the Great Depression
- Economic growth during the 1920s
- Cultural change
- Prohibition
- Harlem Renaissance
- Stock market crash of 1929
- Causes of the Great Depression
- Unemployment
- Economic challenges 7. The New Deal
- New Deal programs
- Federal relief efforts
- Recovery and reform initiatives
- Banking reforms
- Social Security
- Labor protections
- Expanded role of the federal government
- Presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt 8. World War II
- Causes of World War II
- U.S. entry into the war
- Military campaigns in Europe and the Pacific
- Wartime production
- The Holocaust
- Home-front mobilization
- Internment of Japanese Americans
- Development and use of atomic weapons
- Postwar reconstruction 9. The Cold War
- Containment
- Truman Doctrine
- Marshall Plan
- NATO
- Korean War
- Cuban Missile Crisis
- Vietnam War
- Nuclear arms competition
- Détente
- End of the Cold War 10. The Civil Rights Movement & Social Change
Rationale: The Reconstruction Amendments—the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments—were designed to abolish slavery, grant citizenship to former slaves, and protect their voting rights. The 13th Amendment (1865) abolished slavery; the 14th Amendment (1868) granted citizenship and equal protection under the law; the 15th Amendment (1870) prohibited denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. QUESTION 2 Which of the following was NOT a factor that contributed to the end of Reconstruction in the United States? A) The Compromise of 1877 B) The withdrawal of federal troops from the South C) The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 D) Growing Northern fatigue with Reconstruction policies Answer: C Rationale: The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was one of the last civil rights laws passed during Reconstruction, but it was not a cause for the end of Reconstruction. The end of Reconstruction was caused by the Compromise of 1877, the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, Northern fatigue with Reconstruction, and the economic depression of the 1870s. QUESTION 3
Which of the following best describes the system of sharecropping that emerged in the South after Reconstruction? A) Former slaves were given land and farming equipment B) Former slaves and poor whites worked land owned by others in exchange for a share of the crop C) Landowners paid wages to former slaves to work the land D) Former slaves returned to Africa under the colonization movement Answer: B Rationale: Sharecropping was a system in which former slaves and poor whites worked land owned by others in exchange for a share of the crop. This system often trapped farmers in cycles of debt and poverty due to high interest rates and low crop prices. QUESTION 4 What was the primary goal of the Ku Klux Klan during Reconstruction? A) To promote African American voting rights B) To undermine Reconstruction governments and intimidate African Americans C) To support Radical Republican policies D) To promote economic development in the South Answer: B Rationale: The Ku Klux Klan was a white supremacist organization that used violence and intimidation to undermine Reconstruction governments and prevent African Americans from exercising their rights. The
C) To reduce the power of the federal government D) To eliminate all forms of government regulation Answer: B Rationale: The Progressive movement sought to address the social, economic, and political problems created by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. Progressives advocated for political reform, social welfare, and government regulation to improve conditions for ordinary Americans. QUESTION 7 What was the significance of the "dollar diplomacy" policy in U.S. foreign policy? A) It promoted the use of military force to protect American interests B) It emphasized the use of economic influence and investment to achieve American goals abroad C) It called for the creation of a global currency D) It focused on reducing the national debt Answer: B Rationale: Dollar diplomacy, associated with the Taft administration, emphasized the use of American economic influence and investment, particularly in Latin America and East Asia, to achieve foreign policy goals. This approach was an alternative to the use of military force to protect American interests abroad .
QUESTION 8
Which of the following was a major cause of the Spanish-American War? A) The sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor B) The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand C) The German invasion of Belgium D) The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Answer: A Rationale: The explosion and sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor in February 1898 was a major catalyst for the Spanish-American War. American newspapers, engaging in yellow journalism, blamed Spain for the explosion, creating public pressure for war. QUESTION 9 Which of the following describes the "Roosevelt Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine? A) It declared that the United States had the right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American nations to preserve stability B) It established the Open Door Policy in China C) It called for the construction of the Panama Canal D) It established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union Answer: A
A) Increased competition and lower prices for consumers B) Greater economic equality for workers C) The passage of antitrust legislation D) The decline of railroads Answer: C Rationale: The rise of big business and monopolies, such as Standard Oil and Carnegie Steel, led to public concern about economic concentration and the passage of antitrust legislation, including the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. This legislation sought to break up monopolies and promote competition. QUESTION 12 Which of the following best characterizes the U.S. labor movement during the late 19th century? A) It was widely supported by the government B) It was often met with resistance and violence from employers and the government C) It successfully organized all industrial workers D) It focused exclusively on political reform Answer: B Rationale: The labor movement faced significant resistance from employers, who often used strikebreakers, court injunctions, and violence to suppress strikes. Government actions, such as the use of federal troops in the Pullman Strike of 1894, also demonstrated opposition to labor organizing.
QUESTION 13
What was the primary argument of the "Social Darwinism" ideology in the late 19th century? A) Society should provide equal opportunities for all individuals B) The wealthy and successful were naturally superior and should dominate society C) The government should regulate the economy to prevent inequality D) All races and ethnicities were equal Answer: B Rationale: Social Darwinism applied Darwin's theory of natural selection to society, arguing that the wealthy and successful were naturally superior. This ideology justified economic inequality and resistance to social reform by suggesting that poverty was a result of individual failure rather than systemic factors. QUESTION 14 What was the most significant immigration trend in the United States during the late 19th century? A) A shift from Northern and Western European immigration to Southern and Eastern European immigration B) A decline in overall immigration C) An increase in immigration from Asia D) A movement of immigrants to rural areas Answer: A
A) Immigrants came primarily from China and Japan B) Immigrants came primarily from Southern and Eastern Europe C) Immigrants came primarily from Northern and Western Europe D) Immigrants came primarily from Latin America Answer: B Rationale: The New Immigration brought immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, including Italy, Poland, and Russia, in large numbers between the 1880s and the 1920s. This wave of immigration was distinct from the earlier "Old Immigration" from Northern and Western Europe. QUESTION 17 Which of the following was a major goal of the Populist movement in the late 19th century? A) To reduce the money supply B) To increase the power of large corporations C) To promote the interests of farmers and workers D) To end all government regulation Answer: C Rationale: The Populist movement sought to promote the interests of farmers and workers against the power of large corporations and banks. They advocated for a number of reforms, including a graduated income tax, the direct election of senators, and the regulation of railroad rates.
QUESTION 18
Which of the following is a major cause of the growth of the American labor movement in the late 19th century? A) The decline of the factory system B) The rise of factory work and poor working conditions C) The decrease in immigration D) The high wages paid to industrial workers Answer: B Rationale: The rise of factory work and the poor working conditions, including long hours, low wages, and unsafe environments, led to the growth of labor unions. Workers organized to demand better working conditions, higher pay, and the right to bargain collectively. QUESTION 19 Which of the following was a significant achievement of the Progressive Era? A) The passage of the 16th Amendment, which established the federal income tax B) The ratification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote C) The establishment of the Federal Reserve System D) All of the above Answer: D
A) Increased government spending B) Overproduction of goods and the crash of the stock market C) Low unemployment rates D) High wages for workers Answer: B Rationale: The Great Depression was caused by a combination of factors, including overproduction of goods, speculation in the stock market, and the crash of the stock market in 1929. The market crash undermined consumer confidence and led to a decline in spending and investment. QUESTION 22 Which of the following best describes the goals of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs? A) To reduce the size of the federal government B) To provide relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression C) To expand American imperialism abroad D) To nationalize all major industries Answer: B Rationale: The New Deal programs were designed to provide relief to the unemployed, recovery for the economy, and reform of the financial system to prevent future depressions. They included the creation
of the Social Security system, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). QUESTION 23 Which of the following New Deal programs was created to provide jobs for young men in conservation and construction projects? A) The Works Progress Administration (WPA) B) The Social Security Administration C) The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) D) The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Answer: C Rationale: The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) provided jobs for young men in conservation and construction projects, such as building roads, planting trees, and developing parks. It was one of the most popular New Deal programs. QUESTION 24 Which of the following was a major goal of the Social Security Act of 1935? A) To provide a guaranteed income for all Americans B) To create a system of old-age insurance and unemployment compensation
Which of the following describes the "Dust Bowl" of the 1930s? A) A period of severe drought and dust storms in the Plains B) A major earthquake in California C) A series of floods in the Mississippi River Valley D) A volcanic eruption in the Pacific Northwest Answer: A Rationale: The Dust Bowl was a period of severe drought and dust storms in the Plains, particularly in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Colorado. It was caused by a combination of drought, over-farming, and poor land management practices. QUESTION 27 Which of the following was a cause of the Great Depression? A) Overproduction in agriculture and industry B) High tariffs that promoted international trade C) Low levels of stock market speculation D) A balanced federal budget Answer: A Rationale: Overproduction in agriculture and industry led to falling prices and reduced profits, which contributed to the Great Depression. The high tariffs of the Smoot-Hawley Act also worsened the depression by reducing international trade.
QUESTION 28
Which of the following was a significant economic development of the 1920s? A) The widespread use of the automobile B) The decline of the stock market C) The growth of the agricultural sector D) The decrease in consumer debt Answer: A Rationale: The widespread use of the automobile was one of the most significant economic developments of the 1920s. The automobile industry stimulated other industries, such as steel, oil, and rubber, and contributed to the growth of the suburbs and the development of the interstate highway system. QUESTION 29 Which of the following was a significant cause of World War I? A) The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand B) The German invasion of Poland C) The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor D) The sinking of the Lusitania
