SAT II US History : SAT Subject Test in United States History

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II US History

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Example Questions

Example Question #96 : U.S. Foreign Policy

The Truman Doctrine is best summarized as __________.

Possible Answers:

assisting any Latin American nation which was on the verge of having a Communist government

supporting the new nation of Israel in its conflicts against its Arab neighbors

intervening militarily in any conflict between Communist and non-Communist troops

providing debt relief to war ravaged European countries after World War II

providing financial and diplomatic assistance to countries under threat from Communism

Correct answer:

providing financial and diplomatic assistance to countries under threat from Communism

Explanation:

The Truman Doctrine was announced by President Harry Truman to a joint session of Congress on March 12, 1947. Truman was specifically responding to political unrest in Greece and Turkey, where it appeared highly likely that Communist governments would take power. Truman asserted that the U.S. would financially assist in any way it could to prevent Communism from spreading, but would nit be involved militarily.

Example Question #93 : U.S. Foreign Policy

At the turn of the 20th century, what policy did the United States adopt in order to expand its influence and involvement in China?

Possible Answers:

Prompted by a zealous lobby of nativists who feared the influx of Chinese immigration, the US adopted the Chinese American Exclusion Act, prohibiting naturalized Chinese Americans from holding certain jobs in the United States, in hopes that they would return to China.

The US adopted a highly isolationist stance, hoping to prevent China from presenting a threat to American dominance in Eastern trade.

The United States allied itself closely with investors from other Western powers to push the Chinese government to accept a liberalized free trade policy that was friendly to foreign interests.

The US adopted an "Open Door Policy" toward China, which it made explicit to all the other Western powers. This policy intended to keep China open to trade with all countries on an equal basis, preventing any one nation from gaining hegemony over the country. It called upon each of the major powers to refrain from interfering with any treaty port or any vested interest, to permit Chinese authorities to collect tariffs on an equal basis, and to refrain from showing favoritism towards their own nationals with regard to transportation tariffs.

The United States allied itself with the European Spheres of Influence policy, which sought to use industrial might to influence Chinese culture to become more open to Western sensibilities.

Correct answer:

The US adopted an "Open Door Policy" toward China, which it made explicit to all the other Western powers. This policy intended to keep China open to trade with all countries on an equal basis, preventing any one nation from gaining hegemony over the country. It called upon each of the major powers to refrain from interfering with any treaty port or any vested interest, to permit Chinese authorities to collect tariffs on an equal basis, and to refrain from showing favoritism towards their own nationals with regard to transportation tariffs.

Explanation:

The United States was eager to expand its trade markets, and wanted access to Chinese ports. Various European nations and Japan had succeeded in carving out exclusive trading rights to certain key ports in China, which allowed them to block entire regions from US business. The thriving climate of US economic expansionism encouraged policies such as this one, which was proclaimed by Secretary of State John Hay in 1899, in order to open up all “exclusive” ports to American business, and eliminate the granting of favoritism toward certain countries at Chinese ports.

The Open Door policy was rooted in the desire of U.S. businesses to trade with Chinese markets, though it also tapped the deep-seated sympathies of those who opposed imperialism, with the policy pledging to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity from partition.

Example Question #97 : U.S. Foreign Policy

"A few months ago I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me that's true, but the facts and the evidence tell me it is not." -Ronald Reagan

The above quote is a reference to __________________.

Possible Answers:

the Bay of Pigs Invasion

the Iran-Contra Scandal

the Iranian hostage crisis

the invasion of Panama

the Watergate break-in

Correct answer:

the Iran-Contra Scandal

Explanation:

Throughout the 1980s, Nicaragua was involved in a fierce civil war pitting the left-wing Sandinistas against the right-wing Contras. In the mid-1980s, the Reagan administration openly supported and publicly encouraged the Contras as part of their general anti-communist foreign policy. It was revealed in 1987, however, that the Reagan administration had been giving arms to the Contras that were acquired through secret hostage negotiations with the government of Iran, which had a putative embargo during the period.

Example Question #98 : U.S. Foreign Policy

The Domino Theory suggests that _________________.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Once one country in a region succumbs to Communism other neighboring countries will be more likely to succumb as well

Helping to fix the economies of Western European nations is the best policy to help promote global economic prosperity

Once a district changes its support from Democrats to Republicans than neighboring districts will be significantly more likely to follow suit

Tax breaks afforded to the wealthy will lead to a ripple effect whereby the poor are paid more

Correct answer:

Once one country in a region succumbs to Communism other neighboring countries will be more likely to succumb as well

Explanation:

The Domino Theory was an integral part of United States anti-Communist policy in the decades following World War Two. Many American politicians maintained that if Communism was allowed to spread it would have a domino effect which would cause other countries to adopt Communism also. It was provided as justification for numerous anti-Communist wars, campaigns and embargos - most notably, throughout Central America and South-East Asia. 

Example Question #201 : Sat Subject Test In United States History

Which United States conflict was ended by the Paris Peace Accords?

Possible Answers:

Vietnam War

World War II

Gulf War

Spanish-American War

Korean War

Correct answer:

Vietnam War

Explanation:

The Paris Peace Accords ended America’s direct involvement in the Vietnam War in 1973. The peace process provided for a ceasefire between North and South Vietnam and the removal of all American military personnel from Vietnamese territory. It was the work of several years of diplomatic maneuvering by Henry Kissinger, United States National Security Advisor, and his Vietnamese counterpart. The Paris Peace Accords were signed during the Presidency of Richard Nixon.

Example Question #1 : Summary Of U.S. Foreign Policy From 1899 To The Present

Which of the following countries was a significant Cold War ally of the United States?

Possible Answers:
East Germany
Ukraine
Cuba
Czechoslovakia
South Korea
Correct answer: South Korea
Explanation:

The small conflicts that were “hot” during the Cold War took place over the entire globe, and generally pitted allies of the United States against allies of the Soviet Union.  An “Iron Curtain” existed in Europe from the partition of Germany, down through Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, east through the Soviet Union itself.  In other conflicts, including Korea and Cuba, the United States and Soviet Union picked sides in Civil Wars, with the Korean War being fought between Soviet backed North Korea and U.S. backed South Korea.

Example Question #2 : Summary Of U.S. Foreign Policy From 1899 To The Present

What event occurred on December 7, 1941 that caused FDR to call the date "A day that will live in infamy?"

Possible Answers:
The German Invasion of Belgium
The Invasion of Normandy
The discovery of treason committed by Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
The Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Battle of Britain
Correct answer: The Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
Explanation:

In the early morning hours of December 7, 1941, Japanese planes appeared over Hawaii and began bombing Pearl Harbor Naval Base.  The next day, President Roosevelt gave a speech declaring war on the Axis powers and made his famous statement about the Japanese attack.

Example Question #3 : Summary Of U.S. Foreign Policy From 1899 To The Present

What is the name given to Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy of heavy handed diplomacy mixed with a strong military deterrent?

Possible Answers:
New Imperialism
The Square Deal
Kellogg-Briand Pact
Big Stick Diplomacy
Good Neighbor Policy
Correct answer: Big Stick Diplomacy
Explanation:

The idea of peaceful diplomatic negotiation coupled with the implied threat of militaristic intervention summarizes the foreign policy beliefs of Theodore Roosevelt during his time as President. It is generally referred to as Big Stick Diplomacy or Big Stick Policy. It was ultimately reversed by Theodore Roosevelt’s cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, when he instituted the Good Neighbor Policy – which stated that the United States would no longer interfere in the affairs of its Latin American Neighboring countries. 

Example Question #101 : U.S. Foreign Policy

The Reagan Doctrine stated that

Possible Answers:
None of those mentioned describe the Reagan Doctrine
Investment in the military was the best way to safeguard American economic interests
The United States would remain uninvolved in Soviet campaigns
The United States would openly support Anti-Soviet movements throughout the world
The theory of “trickle-down economics” was in the best interest of the nation
Correct answer: The United States would openly support Anti-Soviet movements throughout the world
Explanation:

The Reagan Doctrine explicitly stated that the USSR was “the concentration of all modern evil” and that the United States had a duty to curb the spread of Communism and support Anti-Soviet movements throughout the world. Although Reagan would have argued in favor of “trickle-down economics” – the policy that tax cuts on the rich will lead to a trickle-down effect whereby the poor are paid more – this idea is better summarized by the term “Reaganomics.” Likewise, Reagan would have also argued that increased military spending was the surest way to protect American interests; however this idea is not covered by the Reagan Doctrine. 

Example Question #4 : Summary Of U.S. Foreign Policy From 1899 To The Present

In 1915, American troops invaded which Latin American country that was in talks with Germany about an alliance against the United States?

Possible Answers:
Colombia
Haiti
Nicaragua
Panama
Mexico
Correct answer: Mexico
Explanation:

In 1915, US troops invaded Mexico looking for Pancho Villa.  It was also revealed that Germany had tried to form an alliance with Mexico against America, leading to increased tension. Even though Mexico turned down this alliance, relations were strained with the US after the fact. 

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