GED Social Studies : United States History

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Social Studies

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Example Questions

Example Question #51 : United States History

For what accomplishment, primarily, was Woodrow Wilson awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?

Possible Answers:

Founding the League of Nations

Signing a nuclear non-proliferation pact with the Soviet Union

Establishing the Red Cross

Founding the United Nations

The Geneva Convention

Correct answer:

Founding the League of Nations

Explanation:

In 1919, Woodrow Wilson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work founding the League of Nations, although the League was hampered by the refusal of Wilson’s Congress to ratify American participation in the it.

Example Question #2 : World Wars I And Ii

The Dawes Plan was designed to __________.

Possible Answers:

provide food and aid to Berlin during the blockade of 1948

prevent the spread of socialism in Central and South America by providing financial support to capitalists, republicans, and dictators alike

divide Europe between a Western, American influenced, capitalist bloc and an Eastern, Soviet influenced, socialist bloc

remedy the international problem arising from German debt in the aftermath of World War One

rebuild the economies of Western Europe in the aftermath of World War Two to prevent them from sliding into socialism

Correct answer:

remedy the international problem arising from German debt in the aftermath of World War One

Explanation:

In the immediate aftermath of World War One, the Entente powers sought to make Germany responsible for the financial and human costs of the conflict. The Treaty of Versailles essentially placed all blame for the conflict with the German government, insisting that the Germans pay astronomical reparations. This caused hyperinflation in Germany along with the rise of radical and reactionary ideologies (like Nazism). In an attempt to remedy this situation, the Dawes Plan was established to provide a staggered payment plan and a substantial financial loan from the United States.

Example Question #11 : World Wars I And Ii

The Fourteen Points and the League of Nations were the ideas of which American President?

Possible Answers:

Theodore Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Woodrow Wilson

Richard Nixon

Chester Arthur

Correct answer:

Woodrow Wilson

Explanation:

The League of Nations was an idea proposed by Woodrow Wilson in the aftermath of World War One. It was part of Wilson’s Fourteen Points, which he published with the aim of preventing a large scale international conflict from breaking out in the future.

Example Question #232 : Ged Social Studies

In the League of Nations the United States __________

Possible Answers:

was willing to participate in the diplomatic process but refused to commit troops and financial support.

was never a full member because Congress refused to ratify American membership.

contributed a massive amount of troops and financial support but stayed out of the decisions taken by the league.

took a backseat to the major European powers of the day who guided the direction of the league.

adopted a leading position and guided the direction it took until the outbreak of World War Two dissolved the league.

Correct answer:

was never a full member because Congress refused to ratify American membership.

Explanation:

Despite being the brainchild of American President Woodrow Wilson, the United States never formally entered the League of Nations. This is because Congress did not ratify American membership in the league. In United States law any treaties or foreign-relations decisions taken by the United States President have to be approved by Congress before they can be enacted. Many historians believe that America’s failure to join the League of Nations contributed to its ineffectiveness and swift decline.

Example Question #3 : Isolationism And Neutrality

The United States’ foreign policy belief that America should remain out of international conflicts and disputes is called __________

Possible Answers:

separatism.

isolationism.

imperialism.

Manifest Destiny.

jingoism.

Correct answer:

isolationism.

Explanation:

For the majority of the nineteenth century, United States’ foreign policy, particularly with Europe, revolved around the belief that America should not involve itself in any international conflicts or disputes. This policy is called "isolationism." It faded from preeminence towards the beginning of the twentieth century, when the United States ascended as a world power and began to embark on its own path of imperialist conquest. Isolationism has occasionally resurfaced throughout American history, such as around the time of World War One and of World War Two.

Example Question #12 : World Wars I And Ii

Which of these is not a central component of Fascism?

Possible Answers:

Denial of individual rights

A totalitarian leader

All of these are central components of Fascism.

State-controlled media

Extreme nationalism

Correct answer:

All of these are central components of Fascism.

Explanation:

In the first half of the twentieth century there were competing ideologies about how best to govern a nation—democracy, fascism, and socialism. Fascism— particularly as seen in Spain under Franco and Italy under Mussolini—is defined by an extreme form of nationalism in which the media is under complete control of the state and individual rights are limited. It also generally features a totalitarian leader whose authority cannot be questioned.

Example Question #234 : Ged Social Studies

Which of these countries did not succumb to Fascism in the twentieth century?

Possible Answers:

Brazil

All of these countries succumbed to Fascism.

Spain

Italy

Russia

Correct answer:

Russia

Explanation:

All of these countries were ruled by Fascism at some point in the twentieth century except Russia, which transitioned first from monarchy to socialism, and then towards the end of the twentieth century (with the fall of the Soviet Union) to limited democracy.

Example Question #235 : Ged Social Studies

The deliberate and organized killing of a social, national, religious, or ethnic group is called __________.

Possible Answers:

speculation

genocide

ostracize

heresy

excommunication

Correct answer:

genocide

Explanation:

A government or military policy of deliberately killing a group of people based on social, religious, ethnic, or national reasons is called genocide. Genocides have occurred throughout human history but were particularly prominent in the twentieth century. The Holocaust was a genocide of Europe's Jews and Romani perpetrated by Nazi Germany. Hersey is speaking out against organized religious doctrine; to be ostracized means to be banished or sent away from a community; excommunication is a form of banishment carried out by the Catholic Church where individuals, or whole communities, can be shut off from the salvation provided by and through the Church.

Example Question #236 : Ged Social Studies

Executive Order 9066

"Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of War, and the Military Commanders whom he may from time to time designate, whenever he or any designated Commander deems such action necessary or desirable, to prescribe military areas in such places and of such extent as he or the appropriate Military Commander may determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded, and with respect to which, the right of any person to enter, remain in, or leave shall be subject to whatever restrictions the Secretary of War or the appropriate Military Commander may impose in his discretion. The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to provide for residents of any such area who are excluded therefrom, such transportation, food, shelter, and other accommodations as may be necessary, in the judgment of the Secretary of War or the said Military Commander, and until other arrangements are made, to accomplish the purpose of this order. The designation of military areas in any region or locality shall supersede designations of prohibited and restricted areas by the Attorney General under the Proclamations of December 7 and 8, 1941, and shall supersede the responsibility and authority of the Attorney General under the said Proclamations in respect of such prohibited and restricted areas."

Which of the following most accurately represents the result of this order?

Possible Answers:

Japanese Internment

Pearl Harbor

None of these answers are correct

The 16th Amendment

Correct answer:

Japanese Internment

Explanation:

The correct answer is "Japanese Internment." Executive Order 9066 (partially reproduced above) authorized the military to forcefully relocate and corral, well, anyone-it was completely discretionary. Of course, it was used almost solely to relocate those of Japanese descent and place them into "internment" camps; essentially, it was the forced relocation and detainment of those of Japanese descent, in large part a response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941).

Example Question #1 : Effects Of World War I

The peace treaty that ended World War One is called __________

Possible Answers:

The Treaty of Potsdam.

The Treaty of Yalta.

The Treaty of Versailles.

The Berlin Conference.

The Treaty of Paris.

Correct answer:

The Treaty of Versailles.

Explanation:

The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 between Germany and the Allied powers. It represents the end of World War One. Aside from ending World War One, it is notable for creating the circumstances that led to World War Two; by imposing punishments and blame that were too stringent on Germany, The Treaty of Versailles created the conditions that led to the rise of Nazism in Germany.

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