AP US Government : Policy Relations
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP US Government
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Example Questions
Example Question #64 : Public Policy
The nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union continued to escalate but never boiled over due to _____________, and eventually the period of _____________ began to ease tensions between both sides.
political turmoil in both countries . . . idealism
the Kyoto Protocol . . . containment
MAD, or mutually assured destruction . . . détente
the collapse of the Soviet Union . . . neo-conservatism
a global recession . . . geo-anarchism
MAD, or mutually assured destruction . . . détente
MAD, or mutually assured destruction, is the idea that no country would destroy itself by firing a nuclear weapon at another country armed with nuclear weapons. The attacking country would be destroyed because there would be automatic and equal retaliation from the country being attacked - mutual destruction. This means that despite all of the bravado and showing of military might, neither the United States nor the Soviet Union would launch a nuclear strike against one another, as it would spell doom for the country that launches the attack.
The period of détente is marked by agreements, treaties, and somewhat of a relaxing of hostilities between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Example Question #65 : Public Policy
Which Presidential decree defined the Cold War as a difference of lifestyles and governance?
Nixon Doctrine
Kennedy Doctrine
Reagan Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine
Monroe Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine defined American living and government as the most righteous and effective in the world, and the Soviet Union had the worst, most oppressive government and ideologies.
The policy of containment had been enacted with the invocation of the Truman Doctrine, where America's strategy was not to engage the Soviet Union in military conflict, but rather to lead the world by example and promote growth within American borders.
Both the American and Soviet government believed that each had the proper form of government and society not just for their own respective nations, but also the world.
Example Question #28 : Foreign Relations
What caused China to get involved in the Korean War?
China's pact with North Korea promised military aid in the event of a war between North and South Korea
The coalition of troops led by the U.S. came too close to the Chinese border with North Korea, prompting a Chinese military response
Fearing mass influence from the West (including capitalism and democracy), China engaged in the war to protect its interests
China's main competition in the region, India, backed South Korea, so China felt an obligation to align with North Korea
Russia and China's thin alliance during World War II had strengthened in the years after the war, and China joined in the fight on behalf of Russia
The coalition of troops led by the U.S. came too close to the Chinese border with North Korea, prompting a Chinese military response
As the United States attempted to drive back the North Korean forces out of South Korea, General MacArthur made an arrogant play and advanced to the border of China, which provoked a massive response from the Chinese. This conflict began in 1950, and MacArthur was removed from his post a year later.
This was another conflict that pitted Western, democratic regimes against Eastern, communist ones. North Korea had the support of the Soviet Union while the South had the United Nations and United States.
As the Cold War escalated, there was a series of conflicts like this one where America and the Soviet Union flexed their military might, but never fully engaged one another in combat. These proxy wars contributed to the massive spheres of influence that formed around the world during the Cold War. The United States and Soviet Union would test one another in several conflicts across decades, with one constantly trying to push the other to declare war.
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