APUSH Practice Questions — AP US History Exam Prep

Answer

The establishment of the Second Bank of the United States (1816)

Explanation

The Second Bank represented federal economic intervention, aligning with Hamilton's vision of strong central government and national banking rather than Jefferson's agrarian idealism and states' rights. This shift occurred after War of 1812 exposed economic weaknesses.

Answer

It emphasized individual moral responsibility, inspiring temperance, abolitionist, and women's rights movements

Explanation

Religious revival (1790s-1840s) stressed personal salvation and moral improvement, motivating social reform causes. Idea that society could be perfected through individual moral action drove reforms in education, prisons, asylums, temperance, abolition, women's rights.

Answer

False

Explanation

False. The Monroe Doctrine was more symbolic than enforceable in 1823. The US lacked military power to enforce it until much later (late 19th century). British Navy actually enforced it indirectly. Became important precedent for later US intervention.

Answer

Regulate railroad rates and practices to protect farmers and small businesses from monopoly abuses

Explanation

The ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission) was the first federal regulatory agency, created to address railroad monopoly abuses like rebates, pooling, and discriminatory rates. Marked shift toward federal economic regulation in Gilded Age.

Answer

Industrial job opportunities in Northern cities and escape from Jim Crow segregation

Explanation

Great Migration saw 6+ million African Americans move from rural South to urban North/West. Driven by both 'push' (Jim Crow, violence, lack of opportunity) and 'pull' (industrial jobs in WWI/WWII, greater freedom). Transformed American demographics and culture.

Answer

Established government responsibility for economic security and social welfare (modern welfare state)

Explanation

New Deal (1933-1939) created Social Security, unemployment insurance, labor protections, financial regulations. Marked permanent expansion of federal power into economic/social realm. Conservative opposition argued it violated limited government principles.

Answer

Both periods saw initial progress followed by retrenchment, but post-WWII gains (Civil Rights Movement) proved more durable

Explanation

Reconstruction: 13th-15th Amendments, Black political participation, then Jim Crow backlash. Post-WWII: Brown v. Board, Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, with resistance but lasting legal changes. Economic gains also greater in 20th century.

Answer

False

Explanation

False. Progressive reforms had mixed effects. While some helped workers (labor laws, safety regulations), other reforms restricted immigrants (quotas, Americanization) and excluded African Americans (ignored by most white progressives). Reforms also limited democracy via expert commissions.

Answer

Economic inequality and corporate power remained despite regulatory attempts

Explanation

Despite ICC, Sherman Antitrust Act, and Progressive reforms, large corporations (trusts) continued to dominate economy. Some monopolies broken up, but big business influence persisted. Also: racial inequality continued despite reform rhetoric.

Answer

From continental expansion to overseas imperialism to reluctant global involvement

Explanation

1890s: Spanish-American War, Philippines, Hawaii (imperialism). 1900-1914: Dollar Diplomacy, Panama Canal (intervention). 1917-1918: Enter WWI (shift from neutrality to intervention). Rejected League of Nations but emerged as world power.

Answer

Social Security (created permanent federal role in retirement security)

Explanation

Social Security Act (1935) created federal old-age insurance still central today. Other lasting programs: FDIC (bank insurance), SEC (financial regulation), NLRB (labor), TVA (regional development). Agricultural and work relief programs ended.

Answer

Ideological differences (capitalism vs communism), power vacuum in Europe/Asia, mutual distrust from WWII, atomic weapons

Explanation

Cold War emerged from: (1) incompatible ideologies, (2) both superpowers filling power vacuum left by WWII, (3) Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe vs US containment, (4) nuclear arms race creating existential stakes. Not inevitable but likely given circumstances.