SAT II US History : U.S. Political History from 1899 to the Present

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #611 : Sat Subject Test In United States History

Who won the Presidential Election of 1928?

Possible Answers:

Franklin Roosevelt

Herbert Hoover

Al Smith

Warren Harding

Correct answer:

Herbert Hoover

Explanation:

Herbert Hoover won the election of 1928. He ran against his democratic challenger, Al Smith. Warren Harding was President in the early 1920's, and FDR was President in the 1930's and 40's.

Example Question #51 : U.S. Political History From 1899 To The Present

What President instructed the U.S. Justice Department to attempt to bring down gangsters using tax evasion charges?

Possible Answers:

Franklin Roosevelt

Calvin Coolidge

Warren Harding

Herbert Hoover

Correct answer:

Herbert Hoover

Explanation:

Hoover wanted to clean up the cities of America, which were suffering from an organized crime epidemic. So he instructed the Justice Department and FBI to use whatever charges they could to get these men off the streets. This included sending them to prison for not paying taxes.

Example Question #52 : U.S. Political History From 1899 To The Present

President Hoover signed the Revenue Act of 1932 as an attempt to begin helping citizens during the depression, what did it do?

Possible Answers:

Raised taxes on businesses to record highs

Lowered taxes to record levels

Raised taxes across the board

Cut business taxes to zero

Correct answer:

Raised taxes across the board

Explanation:

Hoover did not want to run a budget deficit, but the people clearly needed direct relief to begin recovering from the Depression. In order to get the money needed to help these people Hoover raised taxes across the board so the government would have the funds for these programs.

Example Question #53 : U.S. Political History From 1899 To The Present

What were the Mexican Repatriation Acts, enforced between 1929-1936?

Possible Answers:

Acts by the federal and local governments that forcibly deported people of Mexican heritage

Acts by the state governments of the southwest that brought in Mexican workers to use as cheap labor during the Depression

Acts by local governments that rounded up illegal immigrants and sent them back to Mexico

Acts by the Federal government that barred immigrants from entering the U.S. from Mexico

Correct answer:

Acts by the federal and local governments that forcibly deported people of Mexican heritage

Explanation:

In order to save money for cities in the American Southwest, the federal government decided to forcibly arrest and deport people of Mexican Heritage. This was also meant to open jobs for people who were deemed "real Americans." Despite this studies have shown that more than half of the people that were deported were actually American Citizens.

Example Question #54 : U.S. Political History From 1899 To The Present

From 1929 to 1936 about how many people were deported as part of the Mexican Repatriation Acts?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Studies have shown that about 2 million people of Mexican Heritage were removed from this country without due process and sent to Mexico. Studies have also shown that of these  people, roughly  were American Citizens.

Example Question #55 : U.S. Political History From 1899 To The Present

What was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act?

Possible Answers:

An act banning the import of most goods as an effort to spur American production

An act reducing taxes on imported goods 

An act declaring free trade with many nations

An act raising taxes on imported goods to near record levels

Correct answer:

An act raising taxes on imported goods to near record levels

Explanation:

This act, passed in 1930, raised taxes to the highest levels in a hundred years. This was meant to both raise revenue for the federal government and encourage American production.

Example Question #56 : U.S. Political History From 1899 To The Present

What was the effect of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act?

Possible Answers:

American production rose by

The government raised enough revenue to begin relief efforts

European nations cut off trade with America

Imports and Exports dropped by half

Correct answer:

Imports and Exports dropped by half

Explanation:

This tariff act caused a series of retaliatory tariffs on American goods overseas, thus causing a massive decline in American exports. This meant the American production industry lost a large part of its business and caused many industries to begin going out of business.

Example Question #57 : U.S. Political History From 1899 To The Present

What was the main significance of the aftermath of the Watergate Scandal? 

Possible Answers:

It proved that Presidents can get away with anything

It was the first time that a President could have been impeached

It led to President Nixon being impeached and convicted for his crimes

It showed that corruption could be exposed in even the highest office of the government

It was the first time a President had a disagreement with other bodies of government

Correct answer:

It showed that corruption could be exposed in even the highest office of the government

Explanation:

The main point of the Watergate Scandal was that it showed the American public that no person is above the law in the United States, not even the President himself. Nixon resigned before he could be impeached. 

Example Question #613 : Sat Subject Test In United States History

When Herbert Hoover ran for re-election as President in 1932, who was his opponent?

Possible Answers:

Al Smith

Franklin Roosevelt

Charles Curtis

Alf Landon

Correct answer:

Franklin Roosevelt

Explanation:

Roosevelt was the Governor of New York, and he won the election of 1932 in a landslide. He received 11 million more votes than his opponent, Hoover. Roosevelt would remain President until his death in 1945.

Example Question #58 : U.S. Political History From 1899 To The Present

During his inaugural address Roosevelt uttered what would become a very famous phrase. What was it?

Possible Answers:

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"

"A day that will live in infamy"

"When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on"

"I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made"

Correct answer:

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"

Explanation:

During his inaugural address Roosevelt felt that he needed to assure the American people that that did not need to be afraid for their future any longer. He wanted to begin the process of beginning to restore faith in the American system after four years of constant economic and political failure.

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