15. The Recent Past

What was the Oklahoma City Bombing (1995)? (A) Foreign terrorist attack (B) Domestic terror attack by Timothy McVeigh on a federal building killing 168 (C) Gang violence (D) School shooting)

B

What event in 1993 involved a federal siege and mass casualties among the Branch Davidians? (A) Ruby Ridge (B) Waco Siege (C) Oklahoma City Bombing (D) Atlanta Olympics bombing)

B

What genocide did the U.S. refuse to intervene in during 1994 despite knowing it was happening? (A) Bosnia (B) Kosovo (C) Rwanda (D) Darfur)

C

How did the U.S. respond to the Bosnian genocide in the 1990s? (A) No action (B) Supported NATO airstrikes and peacekeeping under the Dayton Accords (C) Invaded Serbia (D) Sanctioned Croatia)

B

What is NAFTA? (A) A military alliance (B) A free-trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico implemented in 1994 (C) An environmental treaty (D) A nuclear pact)

B

Who attacked the U.S. on 9/11? (A) Taliban only (B) ISIS (C) al Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden (D) Iraq)

C

What was the immediate U.S. response to 9/11? (A) Draft reinstated (B) Operation Iraqi Freedom (C) Passage of AUMF and invasion of Afghanistan to target al Qaeda and the Taliban (D) Nuclear retaliation)

C

What was Operation Enduring Freedom? (A) Invasion of Iraq (B) NATO attack on Iran (C) U.S. invasion of Afghanistan to remove the Taliban and destroy al Qaeda bases (D) Peacekeeping in Africa)

C

What was Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003)? (A) Afghanistan War (B) U.S. invasion of Iraq based on claims of WMDs and ties to terrorism (C) UN peace mission (D) NATO bombing of Libya)

B

What was a major issue after the 2003 invasion of Iraq? (A) No resistance (B) Immediate democracy (C) Insurgency, sectarian violence, and no WMDs found (D) UN occupation ended instantly)

C

What caused the devastation in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina (2005)? (A) Tornadoes (B) Wildfires (C) Levee failures that flooded 80% of the city (D) Overcrowding)

C

Why was the government criticized for its response to Hurricane Katrina? (A) Overreaction (B) Slow, disorganized FEMA response showing poor preparedness (C) Too much funding (D) Immediate evacuation success)

B

What caused the Great Recession (2007–2009)? (A) Too much manufacturing (B) Housing bubble collapse, subprime mortgages, and banks failing due to risky mortgage-backed securities (C) Oil embargo (D) Federal tax hikes)

B

What was a key factor in the housing market crash? (A) Low mortgage interest (B) Millions received subprime loans they could not afford (C) Overbuilding by the government (D) Decline in home purchases)

B

What happened when major banks collapsed in 2008? (A) No effect (B) Stock markets rose (C) Global financial meltdown; government bailout TARP of $700 billion (D) Oil prices dropped to zero)

C

Which domestic terror event signaled a rise in youth-focused violence in the 1990s? (A) 9/11 (B) Columbine High School shooting (1999) (C) Waco (D) Iran-Contra)

B

Which event did extremists like Timothy McVeigh cite as justification for anti-government violence? (A) NATO bombing (B) Waco Siege (C) Persian Gulf War (D) NAFTA)

B

What was Clinton’s main failure in response to the Rwanda genocide? (A) Over-intervention (B) Sending troops too early (C) Refusal to intervene despite confirmed intelligence (D) Acting without UN approval)

C

What was the Taliban’s role in 9/11? (A) Carried out attacks (B) Provided safe haven to al Qaeda (C) Fought al Qaeda (D) Protected U.S. bases)

B

What new security agency was created after 9/11? (A) CIA (B) NSA (C) Department of Homeland Security (D) FBI)

C

What major intelligence failure was identified by the 9/11 Commission? (A) Too much coordination (B) Failure of CIA and FBI to share information (C) No airport screening (D) No satellite data)

B

Which war began as a part of the Bush Doctrine of preemptive action? (A) Vietnam (B) Iraq War 2003 (Operation Iraqi Freedom) (C) Persian Gulf War (D) Korea)

B

What happened to Iraq after Saddam Hussein’s government collapsed? (A) Peace and stability (B) Immediate democracy (C) Insurgency and sectarian violence erupted, with al Qaeda in Iraq rising (D) U.S. withdrawal within days)

C

Which civil rights issue in the 1990s involved policing and racial justice? (A) Stonewall (B) Rodney King beating and 1992 LA Riots (C) Voting Rights Act (D) ERA ratification)

B

What policy affected LGBTQ+ rights in the 1990s military? (A) Full equality (B) Ban on all service (C) “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” allowing service if closeted (D) Military draft expansion)

C

Why did NAFTA become controversial in the U.S.? (A) Military draft (B) Fear of job outsourcing and factory relocation to Mexico (C) Food shortages (D) Environmental collapse)

B