SAT II US History : Summary of U.S. Economic History from 1899 to the Present

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Summary Of U.S. Economic History From 1899 To The Present

The Great Society was the name given to the Domestic policies of which Presidential administration?

Possible Answers:
Ronald Reagan
Jimmy Carter
Lyndon B. Johnson
George Bush
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Correct answer: Lyndon B. Johnson
Explanation:

The Great Society was the name given to the Domestic policies of President Lyndon Johnson’s Democratic administration. The primary intentions of the Great Society were the alleviation of poverty through economic growth and the removal of racial injustices, particularly in the South.  The Great Society closely resembled FDR’s New Deal program, both in directive and in scope. 

Example Question #2 : Summary Of U.S. Economic History From 1899 To The Present

The Federal Securities Act of 1914                            .

Possible Answers:

increased the size of the United States Army in the build-up to World War One

made corporate executives liable for any misrepresentation of their company’s stock

created a new Federal agency to regulate the sale of foods and medicine 

built on the Sherman Anti-trust Act

gave the Federal Reserve the power to adjust interest rates on loans to banks

Correct answer:

made corporate executives liable for any misrepresentation of their company’s stock

Explanation:

The Federal Securities Act of 1914 was part of the movement to make corporations more responsible for the unethical practice of misrepresenting company stock. It was part of Wilson’s movement in general towards holding big businesses and banks accountable for their actions which had such dramatic effects on the lives of “average” Americans. 

Example Question #3 : Summary Of U.S. Economic History From 1899 To The Present

Bootleggers                        .

Possible Answers:

were Southerners who continued to vote Republican during reconstruction 

were Northerners who came to the South during the Reconstruction Era

supported the immigration of Irish and Italian Catholics in the late 1800s and early 1900s

violated tariff laws

illegally sold and transported liquor during the Prohibition era

Correct answer:

illegally sold and transported liquor during the Prohibition era

Explanation:

The term "bootlegger" refers to the illegal sale and transportation of liquor. Bootleggers were particularly wealthy and influential during the Prohibition Era. They were often co-opted into more concrete organizations and some contributed to the foundations of the United States mafia.

Example Question #4 : Summary Of U.S. Economic History From 1899 To The Present

Who organized and led the American Federation of Labor?

Possible Answers:

John D. Rockefeller

Samuel Gompers

Marcus Garvey 

Booker T. Washington

John Deere

Correct answer:

Samuel Gompers

Explanation:

The American Federation of Labor is one of the earliest and most prominent collective labor unions in the United States. It was organized from disaffected members of the Knights of Labor and was led in direction and motivation by Samuel Gompers. The American Federation of Labor came into existence during the economically stagnant 1890s, a time when class differences were becoming more pronounced. Socialism was drawing greater and greater support from the working classes, and the originally formed American Federation of Labor was an extremely socialist grouping; however, over the years as the economy continued to grow and conditions for the working classes greatly improved, the American Federation of Labor made its peace with capitalism and worked much more towards fitting into the system, instead of overhauling it. Samuel Gompers wasits leader for every year from its inception in 1886 to his death in the 1920s, (except for 1895). 

Example Question #5 : Summary Of U.S. Economic History From 1899 To The Present

Which Supreme Court case declared the Agricultural Adjustment Act to be unconstitutional?

Possible Answers:

Gideon v. Wainwright

Mapp v. Ohio

City of Boerne v. Flores

Butler v. United States

Georgia v. Randolph

Correct answer:

Butler v. United States

Explanation:

The case of Butler v. United States ruled that several components of the Agricultural Adjustment Act were unconstitutional. Primarily it stated that the act violated the proscribed and protected rights of the states to regulate agricultural management and taxation. 

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