US Military History Exam 2 Quiz Questions

What was an argument, used by the anti-militarists in Congress in the 1860s and 70s, to NOT modernize the army and especially navy?

1. we wanted to return to the values of our early Republic

2. anything you built was outmoded in a few years

3. it was fundamentally anti-democratic

4. it was all too expensive

anything you built was outmoded in a few years

What was the main logic of why the U.S. did not need a navy to speak of n the 1860s-80s? (This was known as the 'constitutionalist' stance)

1. we already had a very strong navy

2. we were widely separated from any other naval powers

3. our harbor defenses could stop any invading navy

4. we simply could not afford it

we were widely separated from any other naval powers

Which oceans did the U.S. claim to be the "chief naval power" in in the 1880s?

1. both the Caribbean and Pacific

2. All three oceans and the Baltic as well!

3. the Atlantic and the Caribbean

4. the Pacific and Atlantic

both the Caribbean and Pacific

What did the incident if the USS Virginius demonstrate

1. That the U.S. had a powerful navy

2. That the Union could build state-of-the-art ships

3. That the U.S. had a feeble navy

4. That the Confederates were tactically better than the U.S. at riverine warfare

That the U.S. had a feeble navy

Under Sec. of the Navy Benjamin Tracy, what was the fundamentally new stance that the U.S. adopted.

1. we need to become isolationist

2. we need cooperation with foreign militaries

3. we need overseas naval bases

4. we need new battleships

we need overseas naval bases

What was happening with the Indian Wars during the Civil War

1. They abated as the Indians were pro-Union

2. They intensified as soldiers were brutal to the Indians

3. They were firmly concluded by President Lincoln

4. They had not started yet

They intensified as soldiers were brutal to the Indians

What happened to State militias in the South after the C.W.?

1. they were rotated to the North

2. they were depended upon for local secutiry

3. they were disbanded for fear of insurrection

4. they were largely in charge of the South

they were disbanded for fear of insurrection

Which of the following went in the favor of the U.S. Army in the Indian Wars

1. winter campaigning

2. cavalry

3. repeating rifles

4. logistics

winter campaigninG

What did the KKK quickly become after the end of the Civil War?

1. a paramilitary arm of the Conservative Democrats

2. a charitable organization running homeless shelters

3. a political party to rival Lincoln Republicans

4. a paramilitary arm of the Confederate Army

a paramilitary arm of the Conservative Democrats

Why was the acquisition of the Philippine islands through war, questioned by some Americans?

1. some feared that a powerful earthquake would swallow up the archipelago

2. some feared expansion weakened the state and had no answer in how to defend it

3. some feared being closer to the Communists would put the U.S. in a vulnerable position

4. some feared that the archipelago was absent of any vital resources that could make the U.S. wealthy

some feared expansion weakened the state and had no answer in how to defend it

According to M&M, what led to the Spanish-American War in 1897?

1. an attack on American troops off the coast of Florida

2. Teddy Roosevelt attacking Spanish troops off the coast of Spain

3. the publication of an insulting letter negating Spain’s Reformist Policy, and the sinking of the Maine

4. the sinking of the Maine

the publication of an insulting letter negating Spain’s Reformist Policy, and the sinking of the Maine

Why couldn’t the U.S. annex Cuba after the terms of the peace protocol were established?

1. any actions against the Teller Amendment would make them look untrustworthy

2. they had agreed to sell the island to the Puerto Ricans

3. they were too busy fighting the Filipinos

4. they had ran out of money to invest in another country

any actions against the Teller Amendment would make them look untrustworthy

Congress supported President McKinley’s request for authority to intervene in the 1895 Cuban Revolution, with the stipulation that:

1. the U.S. would not intend to commit troops directly into the revolution

2. the U.S. would intend to secure businesses on the island

3. the U.S. would intend to annex Cuba

4. the U.S. would not intend to annex Cuba

the U.S. would not intend to annex Cuba

What was the U.S.’s strategic principle in the Spanish-American War?

1. a full frontal assault on Santiago

2. a land invasion of Spain

3. a naval conflict aimed at destroying enemy ships, and bombarding and blockading Spanish cities and colonies

4. a heavily sea-mined Cuban perimeter

a naval conflict aimed at destroying enemy ships, and bombarding and blockading Spanish cities and colonies

Why did Governor General Valeriano Weyler exercise the "Reconcentration Program” in 1895?

1. to reconcentrate and distribute food to the citizens

2. to deprive the rebels of food, recruits, and timely information

3. to bring more troops under his command

4. to reconcentrate and distribute arms to the Cuban people

to deprive the rebels of food, recruits, and timely information

Why was the Battle of Manila a peculiar part of American history?

1. the Americans embarked on an unauthorized battle that they ultimately won

2. the battle was scripted between the Spanish and Americans, and didn’t end between the Filipinos and Americans until four days after the signing of the peace protocol

3. the Filipinos were the first to create subterranean tunnel systems, much like the Vietnamese 60 years later

4. the Americans and Filipinos reported the night-sky lighting up as bright as day, during most nights

the battle was scripted between the Spanish and Americans, and didn’t end between the Filipinos and Americans until four days after the signing of the peace protocol

General William T. Shafter’s land invasion proved successful on July 17, with the surrender of Spanish forces in eastern Cuba. But in the process, what did he fail to do?

1. keep most of his troops alive

2. plan accordingly for the humid climate that ceased-up most of his troops’ rifles

3. recognize the contributions that the Cuban rebels played in aiding the U.S. to victory

4. bring enough food to feed all of his troops

recognize the contributions that the Cuban rebels played in aiding the U.S. to victory

Why did William T. Sampson commit to a blockade of Cuba, on April 23, 1897?

1. to prevent other countries from resupplying the Spanish on the island

2. to prevent General William T. Shafter from landing on the island

3. to prevent Spain from trading with Native-Cuban population

4. to prevent Spain from resupplying and reinforcing its largest troop concentration on the island

to prevent Spain from resupplying and reinforcing its largest troop concentration on the island

Which of the following goals did the Allies support in WWI?

1. collect monetary reparations from Russia

2. dissolve the German and Austro-Hungarian empires

3. dissolve the Russian state

4. annexation of Italy

dissolve the German and Austro-Hungarian empires

In which offensive did half of the total American Expeditionary Force casualties occur?

1. the Battle of Somme

2. the Battle of Cambrai

3. the Battle of the Bulge

4. the Meuse-Argonne offensive

the Meuse-Argonne offensive

Who were among those men drafted into World War I?

1. most were made up of unmarried men and unskilled laborers

2. most were made up of criminals, exchanging time behind bars for military service

3. most were made up of hobos, vagabonds, and the homeless

4. most were made up of immigrants

most were made up of unmarried men and unskilled laborers

What actions did the Wilson administration take toward American attitudes of the war in 1917?

1. increased efforts to crush dissent and encourage patriotic commitment

2. it created an organization to gather American attitudes of the war

3. it opened up government funded counseling services across the nation

4. it did nothing, choosing to ignore American sentiments

increased efforts to crush dissent and encourage patriotic commitment

Why was the Committee on Public Information (CPI) so important toward the war effort?

1. it created better working environments for employees contributing to the war effort

2. it collected information on the sentiments of the American people and turned it in to the FBI

3. it helped develop a better garbage disposal system that Americans needed

4. it bombarded the public with anti-German and American propaganda swaying public opinion

it bombarded the public with anti-German and American propaganda swaying public opinion

What two antisubmarine warfare (ASW) offensives did the Americans exercise against the Germans?

1. the use of planes to sink or discourage U-boat sailing to and from their bases and launching direct attacks upon the bases themselves

2. the use of mines to sink or discourage U-boat sailing to and from their bases and launching direct attacks upon the bases themselves

3. the use of destroyers to sink or discourage U-boat sailing to and from their bases and launching attacks upon the bases themselves

4. the use of gatling guns to sink or discourage U-boat sailing to and from their bases and launching attacks upon the bases themselves

the use of mines to sink or discourage U-boat sailing to and from their bases and launching direct attacks upon the bases themselves

Why were American destroyers adopted in escorting American ships to Europe?

1. they could effectively create a wall against any attacks on American ships

2. they could effectively bombard German coastal fortifications

3. they could effectively sink or drive-off U-boats

4. they could effectively shoot-down or drive-off German planes

they could effectively sink or drive-off U-boats

Why was the U.S. obligated to enter World War I?

1. retribution against the Germans

2. economic self-interest and emotional commitment toward democracy

3. our entangling alliances with European powers

4. to show off technological superiority

economic self-interest and emotional commitment toward democracy

What did the “S” Class submarines initiate in the U.S. Navy?

1. a trend toward surface speed, habitability, and fuel capacity that would allow them to accompany a surface fleet

2. an accurate torpedo system that was 80% accurate when locked on to its target

3. the ability to shoot down planes from underwater locations

4. a trend in sonar technology that could identify underwater mines

a trend toward surface speed, habitability, and fuel capacity that would allow them to accompany a surface fleet

Why did Brigadier General William ("Billy") Mitchell urge for the creation of a separate air force and department of aviation?

1. he felt that a separate department could acquire more money

2. he thought that only organizational autonomy would ensure the full exploitation of aviation

3. he was an elitist who thought aviation was far superior to any other military advances

4. he thought it would complicate the department’s importance if it shared a military branch

he thought that only organizational autonomy would ensure the full exploitation of aviation

The ROTC was part of the National Defense Act of 1920, why was it particularly important?

1. it institutionalized the peacetime training and commissioning of new lieutenants

2. it was implemented in the high school curriculum

3. it was a source of added revenue for public educational facilities

4. it showed college students the importance of the military through government funded field trips

it institutionalized the peacetime training and commissioning of new lieutenants

Why was bomber development pushed so hard by Major General James Fechet (chief of the Air Corps) in 1927?

1. he was tinkering with a better bomber through trial and error

2. he felt that war was imminent and it would not hurt in being prepared

3. parts in the construction of bombers were being manufactured and could be purchased on the cheap

4. there was interest by particular corporations in building long-range aircraft for commercial purposes

there was interest by particular corporations in building long-range aircraft for commercial purposes

Why was the National Defense Act of 1920 especially valuable?

1. it provisioned the commissioning of reserve officers on a continuing basis

2. it established the responsibilities of each military branch

3. it established a draft protocol that could be enacted upon the outbreak of war

4. it authorized the creation of U.S. submarines and planes

it provisioned the commissioning of reserve officers on a continuing basis

Why was submarine service particularly dangerous?

1. salt water and electric batteries produced deadly chlorine gas when a sub submerged

2. submariners returned from tour with mental breakdowns and hallucinations

3. the early understanding for cabin-pressure led to the implosion of human beings diving to greater depths

4. poor engineering fabrication of the hull would lead to the sub’s unraveling as it dove to greater depths

salt water and electric batteries produced deadly chlorine gas when a sub submerged

Why was the U.S. hesitant in pursuing an airplane military policy during the interwar period?

1. it did not offer a cheap and decisive way to protect America

2. it was not confident in its engineering program

3. it was not high on the priority list of Congress, which would lead to no funding

4. it could not find adequate military professionals to teach potential pilots

it did not offer a cheap and decisive way to protect America

What was the U.S.’s primary form of military defense after World War I?

1. the Marine Corps

2. the Air Force

3. the Army

4. the Navy

the Navy

Why was the implementation of the U.S.’s “Arsenal of Democracy” policy so important during the war effort?

1. it meant that the United States could distribute arms to whoever they pleased

2. it was a policy built up in opposition of communism

3. it was a metaphor for the United States’ political tools to get what they wanted from other countries

4. it meant that manpower was distributed evenly between the workforce and the armed services

it meant that manpower was distributed evenly between the workforce and the armed services

Why was the Selective Service and Training Act of 1940 important for the United States at this time?

1. it began the Civil Rights movement by integrating the races in military service

2. it raised the standard of living for millions of Americans

3. it created thousands of much needed jobs

4. it was the nation’s first peacetime draft that filled the ranks with an additional 600,000 draftees

it was the nation’s first peacetime draft that filled the ranks with an additional 600,000 draftees

hy was the Tri-Partite Pact beneficial for Germany, Italy, and Japan?

1. it created an agreed understanding to attack any and all British people

2. it opened the borders for travel for each country’s citizens

3. it pledged mutual assistance in the event that an uncommitted nation entered the war

4. it created a temporary surge in economic prosperity between them

it pledged mutual assistance in the event that an uncommitted nation entered the war

Why was the second War Powers Act of 1942 beneficial for the President during the war effort?

1. it granted him the right to never relinquish the presidency

2. it granted him authority to allocate materials and facilities to war production

3. it granted him the right to imprison any U.S. citizen for any reason

4. it granted him 500 tanks, 10,000 jet planes, 1,000 bombers and 2,000 submarines as requested

it granted him authority to allocate materials and facilities to war production

Why did Franklin D. Roosevelt pursue and push the signing of the “Declaration of the United Nations” in 1942, on the British, Russians, and Chinese?

1. to begin the development of the United Nations

2. to form an exclusive political partnership

3. to form an exclusive economic partnership

4. to pursue total victory with “no separate peace treaties” against the Axis powers

to pursue total victory with “no separate peace treaties” against the Axis powers

Why were America’s farms and factories so important to the war effort?

1. they created an equal opportunity workplace

2. they helped supply the British with much needed horses and hay

3. they could support not only the nation’s own armed forces but their allies as well

4. they kept people from being idle

they could support not only the nation’s own armed forces but their allies as well

Which versatile technology gave commanders more control over troops and changed the way wars would be fought?

1. radio communication

2. jet planes

3. submarines

4. tanks

radio communication

How did the Allies become victorious in the “Battle of the Atlantic?”

1. code-breaking

2. allied bombers

3. radar and sonar technologies

4. through a wide range of organizational, technical, and operational programs

through a wide range of organizational, technical, and operational programs

In which location was the U.S. Navy’s most desperate battles of the war fought?

1. the Dutch East Indies

2. the Samoan Islands

3. the Solomon Islands

4. the Fiji Islands

the Solomon Islands

What was the most problematic ordeal that Allied transatlantic shipping faced between 1940-1943?

1. surface commerce raiders

2. German bombers

3. the Luftwaffe’s antishipping campaign

4. U-boats

U-boats

How were the RAF and USAAF different in their bombing campaigns?

1. the RAF was preoccupied with bombing German submarines, while the USAAF focused on presumed headquarters

2. the RAF was preoccupied with industrial targets, while the USAAF focused on bombing civilian centers of Germany

3. the RAF was preoccupied with bombing civilian centers of Germany, while the USAAF focused on industrial targets

4. the RAF was preoccupied with bombing historic buildings, while the USAAF focused on civilian sites

the RAF was preoccupied with bombing civilian centers of Germany, while the USAAF focused on industrial targets

During the early stages of World War II, who did Franklin D. Roosevelt envision mounting an offensive against the Japanese?

1. Russia

2. China

3. United States

4. England

China

Why did Hirohito finally order his armed forces to surrender?

1. to save the Japanese nation from being atomically bombed again

2. to reopen supply lines that had caused many Japanese to starve to death

3. to save the Japanese nation from impending Soviet invasion and conquest

4. because the Japanese people rose up and demanded that he capitulate

to save the Japanese nation from impending Soviet invasion and conquest

Why was the capturing of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam (the Mariana Islands), by the United States, a critical victory?

1. it ended Japanese threat of naval aviation in the Pacific and it helped create a new air base complex for its B-29s

2. it blocked Japanese communication with its neighboring military colonies

3. it blocked the Japanese from resupplying its neighboring military colonies

4. it stole away the Japanese’s petroleum resource

it ended Japanese threat of naval aviation in the Pacific and it helped create a new air base complex for its B-29s

After the invasion at Normandy:

1. the Allies enjoyed radio communication superiority over the battlefield for the remainder of the war

2. the Allies enjoyed logistical transportation superiority over the battlefield for the remainder of the war

3. the Allies enjoyed mechanical infantry superiority over the battlefield for the remainder of the war

4. the Allies enjoyed air superiority over the battlefield for the remainder of the war

the Allies enjoyed air superiority over the battlefield for the remainder of the war

How did General MacArthur ('Mac') resupply his naval operations in the Pacific that was different from General Nimitz?

1. Mac based his supply line on a chain of eleven fixed bases which moved from island to island

2. Mac attacked incoming merchant ships and looted what he needed

3. Mac didn’t need to resupply his troops because they were a small group

4. Mac based it on a sea based logistical system capable of replenishing warships at sea

Mac based his supply line on a chain of eleven fixed bases which moved from island to island

How did General Nimitz resupply his naval operations in the Pacific that was different from General MacArthur?

he based his supply line on a chain of eleven fixed bases which moved from island to island

helicopters delivered goods to his carriers

he based it on a sea based logistical system capable of replenishing warships at sea

he plundered what he needed from Japanese sea vessels

he based it on a sea based logistical system capable of replenishing warships at sea

In 1944, the USAAF changed target priorities, and began concentrating on:

manufacturing sites

the petroleum industry

transportation networks

sea targets

the petroleum industry

What was the Allies‘ biggest problem in crossing France?

1. the great appetite of their mechanized and motorized armies

2. the swampy and mountainous terrains

3. the temperamental weather that hindered any effective planning by the Allies

4. the many roadblocks they encountered from bombardment debris

the great appetite of their mechanized and motorized armies

What two forms of American assaults were exacted upon the Japanese homelands?

1. submarine warfare and close combat

2. close combat and mechanized infantry

3. mechanized infantry and bomber attacks

4. submarine warfare and bomber attacks

submarine warfare and bomber attacks