AP US History · Topic 9.6
Challenges of the 21st Century Practice
Part of Period 9: 1980–Present.
Practice questions
41
Sample questions
5 of 41 — sign in to practice the rest with adaptive difficulty and mastery tracking.
Sample 1difficulty 2/5
On September 11, 2001
- A
A stock market crash triggered a deep recession and prompted emergency federal bailouts
- B
Iraq invaded Kuwait, prompting a U.S.-led coalition response under President Bush
- Ccheck_circle
Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes; attacks killed about 3,000 in NYC, the Pentagon, and PA
- D
The Soviet Union formally collapsed, ending the Cold War and reshaping NATO strategy
Why
Reshaped American foreign and domestic policy; led to the War on Terror.
- A
Sample 2difficulty 2/5
"The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation… may make an application for an order requiring the production of any tangible things (including books, records, papers, documents, and other items) for an investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities." — USA PATRIOT Act, Section 215, October 26, 2001
The court that reviews Section 215 applications was created by which earlier statute?
- Acheck_circle
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
- B
The National Security Act of 1947
- C
The Communications Act of 1934
- D
The Internal Security Act of 1950
Why
FISA established the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court after Watergate-era abuses revealed by the Church Committee; the Patriot Act expanded its jurisdiction.
- A
Sample 3difficulty 2/5
"Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom." — George W. Bush, Address to the Nation, September 11, 2001
The attacks described prompted which immediate U.S. policy response?
- Acheck_circle
The launch of a global War on Terror, beginning with military action in Afghanistan
- B
Withdrawal of all U.S. troops from overseas bases
- C
Recognition of the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate government
- D
An immediate constitutional amendment outlawing immigration
Why
Within weeks of 9/11, Bush authorized Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and declared a broader War on Terror targeting al-Qaeda and its sponsors.
- A
Sample 4difficulty 3/5
"No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. The Constitution grants same-sex couples equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person. The Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex." — Justice Kennedy, Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015
Obergefell built on which 2013 ruling?
- A
Lawrence v. Texas overturning sodomy laws
- B
Romer v. Evans striking Colorado Amendment 2
- C
Bowers v. Hardwick
- Dcheck_circle
U.S. v. Windsor striking part of the Defense of Marriage Act
Why
Windsor (2013) struck DOMA's federal definition, paving the way for Obergefell to apply that logic to state marriage laws.
- A
Sample 5difficulty 3/5
The September 2001 spike to roughly 90% approval is best understood as an example of which phenomenon?
- A
Successful supply-side economic policy
- Bcheck_circle
A 'rally-around-the-flag' effect during a major national security crisis
- C
Public response to a Supreme Court ruling
- D
A landslide reelection mandate
Why
Bush's approval surged from roughly 50% to 90% after 9/11, illustrating the rally-around-the-flag effect, where presidents enjoy spikes during external crises. The rally faded as the Iraq War lengthened.
- A