America Confronts the Post-Cold War Era, 1992–2009

1. Chapter 41 America Confronts the Post-Cold War Era, 1992–2009

2. Question All of the following were true of the Democratic Leadership Council EXCEPT • chastened by the party’s long exile in the political wilderness, cofounder Bill Clinton claimed to be a “new” Democrat. • it aimed to point the party away from its traditional anti-business, dovish, champion-of-the-underdog orientation. • it rejected progrowth, strong defense, and anticrime policies. • Clinton campaigned especially vigorously on promises to stimulate the economy, reform the welfare system, and overhaul the nation’s healthcare apparatus.

3. Answer All of the following were true of the Democratic Leadership Council EXCEPT • chastened by the party’s long exile in the political wilderness, cofounder Bill Clinton claimed to be a “new” Democrat. • it aimed to point the party away from its traditional anti-business, dovish, champion-of-the-underdog orientation. • it rejected progrowth, strong defense, and anticrime policies. (correct) • Clinton campaigned especially vigorously on promises to stimulate the economy, reform the welfare system, and overhaul the nation’s healthcare apparatus. Hint: See page 1057.

4. Question All of the following were true of the Contract with America EXCEPT • Republicans were led by outspoken Georgia representative Newt Gingrich. • it promised an all-out assault on budget deficits and radical reductions in welfare programs. • their campaign gained only modest success, as right-wing politicians made only modest gains in the 1994 congressional elections. • every incumbent Republican gubernatorial, senatorial, and congressional candidate was reelected.

5. Answer All of the following were true of the Contract with America EXCEPT • Republicans were led by outspoken Georgia representative Newt Gingrich. • it promised an all-out assault on budget deficits and radical reductions in welfare programs. • their campaign gained only modest success, as right-wing politicians made only modest gains in the 1994 congressional elections. (correct) • every incumbent Republican gubernatorial, senatorial, and congressional candidate was reelected. Hint: See pages 1059–1060.

6. Question All of the following were true of the Welfare Reform Bill of 1996 EXCEPT • it made deep cuts in welfare grants and required able-bodied welfare recipients to find employment. • it tightly restricted welfare benefits for legal and illegal immigrants alike. • old-line liberal Democrats meekly accepted the president’s alleged betrayal of his party’s heritage. • Clinton’s acceptance of the welfare reform package was part of his shrewd political strategy of accommodating the electorate’s conservative mood by moving to his right.

7. Answer All of the following were true of the Welfare Reform Bill of 1996 EXCEPT • it made deep cuts in welfare grants and required able-bodied welfare recipients to find employment. • it tightly restricted welfare benefits for legal and illegal immigrants alike. • old-line liberal Democrats meekly accepted the president’s alleged betrayal of his party’s heritage. (correct) • Clinton’s acceptance of the welfare reform package was part of his shrewd political strategy of accommodating the electorate’s conservative mood by moving to his right. Hint: See page 1060.

8. Question All of the following were true of the North American Free Trade Agreement EXCEPT • Clinton displayed political courage by supporting NAFTA. • it created in 1993 a free-trade zone encompassing Mexico, Canada, and the United States. • Clinton reversed his own election stand and bucked the opposition of protectionists in his own party. • proponents, and especially labor leaders, were fearful of losing jobs to low-wage Mexican workers.

9. Answer All of the following were true of the North American Free Trade Agreement EXCEPT • Clinton displayed political courage by supporting NAFTA. • it created in 1993 a free-trade zone encompassing Mexico, Canada, and the United States. • Clinton reversed his own election stand and bucked the opposition of protectionists in his own party. • proponents, and especially labor leaders, were fearful of losing jobs to low-wage Mexican workers. (correct) Hint: See page 1061.

10. Question The World Trade Organization • rescinded the goals of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). • was a cherished goal of free-trade advocates since the end of the Second World War. • created a free-trade zone encompassing Mexico, Canada, and the United States. • carefully adjusted interest rates to control inflation while promoting economic growth.

11. Answer The World Trade Organization • rescinded the goals of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). • was a cherished goal of free-trade advocates since the end of the Second World War. (correct) • created a free-trade zone encompassing Mexico, Canada, and the United States. • carefully adjusted interest rates to control inflation while promoting economic growth. Hint: See page 1061.

12. Question All of the following were true of the McCain-Feingold Act EXCEPT it • was bipartisan campaign finance control legislation that sought to limit the amounts and types of money spent by and for candidates for elected office. • removed limits on “soft money,” or funds raised by groups that are unaffiliated with a candidate but advertise, indirectly, on that candidate’s behalf, or against the opponent. • represented an effort to improve the public’s impression of Washington politics by increasing transparency. • was widely criticized by some as an unconstitutional limit on free speech and expression.

13. Answer All of the following were true of the McCain-Feingold Act EXCEPT it • was bipartisan campaign finance control legislation that sought to limit the amounts and types of money spent by and for candidates for elected office. • removed limits on “soft money,” or funds raised by groups that are unaffiliated with a candidate but advertise, indirectly, on that candidate’s behalf, or against the opponent. (correct) • represented an effort to improve the public’s impression of Washington politics by increasing transparency. • was widely criticized by some as an unconstitutional limit on free speech and expression. Hint: See page 1061.

14. Question All of the following were true of the controversy surrounding the Whitewater investigation EXCEPT • Clinton’s critics brought charges of everything from philandering to illegal financial transactions. • they included allegations of corruption stemming from a real estate deal called the Whitewater Land Corporation. • they triggered an investigation by a special prosecutor. • the Clintons were eventually subject to multiple indictments.

15. Answer All of the following were true of the controversy surrounding the Whitewater investigation EXCEPT • Clinton’s critics brought charges of everything from philandering to illegal financial transactions. • they included allegations of corruption stemming from a real estate deal called the Whitewater Land Corporation. • they triggered an investigation by a special prosecutor. • the Clintons were eventually subject to multiple indictments. (correct) Hint: See page 1063.

16. Question All of the following were true of the Abu Ghraib scandal EXCEPT • it took place at a detention facility near Baghdad, Iraq. • under Saddam Hussein, the prison was the site of infamous torturing and execution of political dissidents. • during the U.S. occupation of Iraq, the prison became the focal point of a prisoner-abuse and torture scandal. • the scandal faded quickly from the public consciousness and had no effect on perceptions of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

17. Answer All of the following were true of the Abu Ghraib scandal EXCEPT • it took place at a detention facility near Baghdad, Iraq. • under Saddam Hussein, the prison was the site of infamous torturing and execution of political dissidents. • during the U.S. occupation of Iraq, the prison became the focal point of a prisoner-abuse and torture scandal. • the scandal faded quickly from the public consciousness and had no effect on perceptions of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. (correct) Hint: See page 1072.

18. Question All of the following were true of the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01 EXCEPT • some three thousand innocent victims perished, including people of many races and faiths from more than sixty countries, as well as hundreds of New York’s police-and fire-department rescue workers. • President Bush’s allegations of Iraqi connections to 9/11 proved to be correct. • Bush responded to the 9/11 attacks by invading the terrorist haven of Afghanistan. • it called forth, at least temporarily, a resurgent sense of national unity.

19. Answer All of the following were true of the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01 EXCEPT • some three thousand innocent victims perished, including people of many races and faiths from more than sixty countries, as well as hundreds of New York’s police-and fire-department rescue workers. • President Bush’s allegations of Iraqi connections to 9/11 proved to be correct. (correct) • Bush responded to the 9/11 attacks by invading the terrorist haven of Afghanistan. • it called forth, at least temporarily, a resurgent sense of national unity. Hint: See page 1068.

20. Question All of the following were part of President Bush’s response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01 EXCEPT • signing the USA Patriot Act. • supporting the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. • authorizing the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. • authorizing diplomatic sanctions against Saudi Arabia.

21. Answer All of the following were part of President Bush’s response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01 EXCEPT • signing the USA Patriot Act. • supporting the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. • authorizing the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. • authorizing diplomatic sanctions against Saudi Arabia. (correct) Hint: See pages 1068–1070.